By Tobias Wall
State Capitol Bureau
Posted Mar. 30, 2014 @ 10:00 pm
Updated at 10:08 PM
State lawmakers have a choice this spring between a wide-reaching overhaul of Illinois’ divorce law or a bill with the single aim of setting a minimum amount of parenting time for non-custodial parents.
One bill is a 196-page omnibus that changes dozens of provisions currently on the books. The other, more narrow bill, sets minimum parenting time standards for divorced parents.
Both bills are in amendment stage on the House floor, but it’s uncertain when they’ll move.
Rep. Kelly Burke, D-Evergreen Park, sponsored the omnibus that she said was drafted based on recommendations made by the Family Law Study Committee, created by a House joint resolution in 2008.
On the committee were legislators, attorneys and family advocacy group members.
“The committee was created to revamp the divorce act. They felt it was ready for an overhaul,” Burke said.
Equal time?
One area the committee agreed needed attention was how judges make custody and visitation decisions. Currently, the most typical court-ordered arrangement allows non-custodial parents every other weekend and one day each week with their kids.
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