Illinois § 5

§ 5.

(a) Subject to the supervisory authority of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit in which a dispute resolution fund has been established shall make rules pertaining to the operation and standards to be adhered to by dispute resolution centers in that judicial circuit in order to qualify for funding. Such rules shall provide for the following in connection with mediation of disputes referred from the court system: (1) Each dispute resolution center applying for funding shall report the number of cases which have been successfully resolved in each of the 3 preceding years. (2) All mediators shall be trained in conflict resolution techniques for at least 30 hours and shall participate in an ongoing peer review program. Mediators shall perform their duties as volunteers, and shall not receive any compensation for their services. (3) Mediation shall be scheduled within 30 days of commencement of a case unless good cause exists for not scheduling mediation. (4) Each dispute resolution center receiving funding under this Act shall maintain records which shall be available for inspection by the office of the Chief Judge of the circuit and which shall demonstrate adherence to applicable requirements. (5) Prior to mediation, disputants shall be advised of the objectives of mediation, the function of the mediator, and the role of the disputants in the mediation process. (6) A dispute shall be considered to be successfully resolved when a written agreement which sets forth the obligations and responsibilities of the disputants is signed by the disputants. (b) Subject to the supervisory authority of the Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of each judicial circuit in which a dispute resolution fund has been established shall make rules concerning the types of cases which the judges of the circuit may refer to a qualified dispute resolution center, and may make any other rules necessary for the operation of the Act in that judicial circuit. (Source: P.A. 93-240, eff. 1-1-04.)