Genetic Testing

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(750 ILCS 46/Art. 4 heading)

ARTICLE 4. GENETIC TESTING

 

(750 ILCS 46/401)

Sec. 401. Proceeding authorized. As soon as practicable, a court or an administrative hearing officer in an Expedited Child Support System may, and upon the request of a party except as provided in Section 610 of this Act, or of the child, shall order or direct the mother, child, and alleged father to submit to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testing to determine inherited characteristics. If any party refuses to submit to genetic testing, the court may resolve the question of paternity against that party or enforce its order if the rights of others and the interests of justice so require.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/402)

Sec. 402. Requirements for genetic testing.

(a) The genetic testing shall be conducted by an expert qualified as an examiner of blood or tissue types and appointed by the court. The expert shall determine the genetic testing procedures. However, any interested party, for good cause shown, in advance of the scheduled genetic testing, may request a hearing to object to the qualifications of the expert or the genetic testing procedures. The expert appointed by the court shall testify at the pre-test hearing at the expense of the party requesting the hearing, except for an indigent party as provided in Section 405 of this Act. An expert not appointed by the court shall testify at the pre-test hearing at the expense of the party retaining the expert. Inquiry into an expert's qualifications at the pre-test hearing shall not affect either party's right to have the expert qualified at trial.

(b) Genetic testing must be of a type reasonably relied upon by experts in the field of genetic testing and performed in a testing laboratory accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks or a successor to its functions.

(c) A specimen used in genetic testing may consist of one or more samples, or a combination of samples, of blood, buccal cells, bone, hair, or other body tissue or fluid.

(d) The testing laboratory shall determine the databases from which to select frequencies for use in calculation of the probability of paternity based on the ethnic or racial group of an individual or individuals. If there is disagreement as to the testing laboratory's choice, the following rules apply:

  • (1) The individual objecting may require the testing laboratory, within 30 days after receipt of the report of the genetic testing, to recalculate the probability of paternity using an ethnic or racial group different from that used by the laboratory.
  • (2) The individual objecting to the testing laboratory's initial choice shall:
    • (A) if the frequencies are not available to the testing laboratory for the ethnic or racial group requested, provide the requested frequencies compiled in a manner recognized by accrediting bodies; or
    • (B) engage another testing laboratory to perform the calculations.

(e) If, after recalculation using a different ethnic or racial group, genetic testing does not reputably identify a man as the father of a child, an individual who has been tested may be required to submit to additional genetic testing.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/403)

Sec. 403. Genetic test results.

(a) The expert shall prepare a written report of the genetic test results. If the genetic test results show that the alleged father is not excluded, the report shall contain statistics based upon the statistical formula of combined paternity index (CPI) and the probability of paternity as determined by the probability of exclusion (Random Man Not Excluded = RMNE). The expert may be called by the court as a witness to testify to his or her findings and, if called, shall be subject to cross-examination by the parties. If the genetic test results show that the alleged father is not excluded, any party may demand that other experts, qualified as examiners of blood or tissue types, perform independent genetic testing under order of court, including, but not limited to, blood types or other testing of genetic markers. The results of the genetic testing may be offered into evidence. The number and qualifications of the experts shall be determined by the court.

(b) Documentation of the chain of custody of the blood or tissue samples, accompanied by an affidavit or certification in accordance with Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, is competent evidence to establish the chain of custody.

(c) The report of the genetic test results prepared by the appointed expert shall be made by affidavit or by certification as provided in Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure and shall be mailed to all parties. A proof of service shall be filed with the court. The verified report shall be admitted into evidence at trial without foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy, unless a written motion challenging the admissibility of the report is filed by either party within 28 days of receipt of the report, in which case expert testimony shall be required. A party may not file such a motion challenging the admissibility of the report later than 28 days before commencement of trial. Before trial, the court shall determine whether the motion is sufficient to deny admission of the report by verification. Failure to make that timely motion constitutes a waiver of the right to object to admission by verification and shall not be grounds for a continuance of the hearing to establish paternity.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/404)

Sec. 404. Effect of genetic testing. Genetic testing taken under this Article shall have the following effect:

  • (a) If the court finds that the conclusion of the expert or experts, as disclosed by the evidence based upon the genetic testing, is that the alleged father is not the parent of the child, the question of paternity shall be resolved accordingly.
  • (b) If the experts disagree in their findings or conclusions, the question shall be weighed with other competent evidence of paternity.
  • (c) If the genetic testing results indicate that the alleged father is not excluded and that the combined paternity index is at least 1,000 to 1, and there is at least a 99.9% probability of paternity, the alleged father is presumed to be the father, and this evidence shall be admitted.
  • (d) A man identified under subsection (c) of this Section as the father of the child may rebut the genetic testing results by other genetic testing satisfying the requirements of this Article which:
    • (1) excludes the man as a genetic father of the child; or
    • (2) identifies another man as the possible father of the child.
  • (e) Except as otherwise provided in this Article, if more than one man is identified by genetic testing as the possible father of the child, the court shall order them to submit to further genetic testing to identify the genetic father.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/405)

Sec. 405. Cost of genetic testing. The expense of the genetic testing shall be paid by the party who requests the genetic testing, except that the court may apportion the costs between the parties, upon request. When the genetic testing is requested by the party seeking to establish paternity and that party is found to be indigent by the court, the expense shall be paid by the public agency providing representation; except that where a public agency is not providing representation, the expense shall be paid by the county in which the action is brought. When the genetic testing is ordered by the court on its own motion or is requested by the alleged or presumed father and that father is found to be indigent by the court, the expense shall be paid by the county in which the action is brought. Any part of the expense may be taxed as costs in the action, except that no costs may be taxed against a public agency that has not requested the genetic testing.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/406)

Sec. 406. Compensation of expert. The compensation of each expert witness appointed by the court shall be paid as provided in Section 405 of this Act. Any part of the payment may be taxed as costs in the action, except that no costs may be taxed against a public agency that has not requested the services of the expert witness.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/407)

Sec. 407. Independent genetic testing. Nothing in this Article shall prevent a party from obtaining genetic testing of his or her own blood or tissue independent of those ordered by the court or from presenting expert testimony interpreting those tests or any other blood tests ordered under this Article. Reports of all the independent tests, accompanied by affidavit or certification pursuant to Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and notice of any expert witnesses to be called to testify to the results of those tests shall be submitted to all parties at least 30 days before any hearing set to determine the issue of parentage.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)

 

(750 ILCS 46/408)

Sec. 408. Additional persons to be tested.

(a) Subject to subsection (b), if a genetic-testing specimen is not available from a man who may be the father of a child, for good cause and under circumstances the court considers to be just, the court may order the following individuals to submit specimens for genetic testing:

  • (1) the parents of the man;
  • (2) brothers and sisters of the man;
  • (3) other children of the man and their mothers; and
  • (4) other relatives of the man necessary to complete genetic testing.

(b) Issuance of an order under this Section requires a finding that a need for genetic testing outweighs the legitimate interests of the individual sought to be tested, and in no event shall an order be issued until the individual is joined as a party and given notice as required under the Code of Civil Procedure.

(Source: P.A. 99-85, eff. 1-1-16.)


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