Ramey Fair Parental Reimbursement Bill Becomes Law

     Senate Bill 2594 (P.A. 95-0864) changes the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 so that in cases where paternity action is necessary or the identity of the father is unknown, the mother can recoup birthing expenses if determined by a judge.

     "I am pleased this has now become law and parents can recoup birthing expenses that they might be entitled to receive,” Ramey said. “In many cases where there are paternity actions, mothers are losing out on getting reimbursements because they can't do so within the 2-year timeline that is currently in place."

     "Current law only allows reasonable expenses incurred by either parent related to the mother's pregnancy and child delivery to be reimbursed within two years after a child's birth. But when a paternity action is necessary or the identity of the father is unknown, the 2 years from birth limitation makes it impossible to obtain reimbursement for birthing expenses," Ramey said.

     Senate Bill 2594, which was sponsored by Sen. John Millner, was an initiative of DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett.