(a) For the purposes of this section, “domestic violence docket” means a docket in a geographical area separate and apart from other criminal matters for the hearing of family violence matters.
(b) Not later than December 31, 2010, the Chief Court Administrator shall identify geographical areas that do not have a domestic violence docket and designate three geographical areas from among such geographical areas for the establishment of domestic violence dockets. Not later than June 30, 2011, the Chief Court Administrator may establish, within available resources, a domestic violence docket in each geographical area so designated under this subsection. If the Chief Court Administrator establishes such dockets, the Chief Court Administrator shall, prior to establishing such dockets, examine the effectiveness of domestic violence dockets in existence prior to June 7, 2010, and incorporate, within available resources, the operational elements of such dockets that the Chief Court Administrator deems beneficial to victims of family violence. If the Chief Court Administrator does not establish such dockets by June 30, 2011, the Chief Court Administrator shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the judiciary, stating the reasons why such dockets were not established.
(P.A. 10-144, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 10-144 effective June 7, 2010.