1. (a) Before accepting a mediation, an individual who is requested to serve as a mediator shall:

   1. (1) make an inquiry that is reasonable under the circumstances to determine whether there are any known facts that a reasonable individual would consider likely to affect the impartiality of the mediator, including a financial or personal interest in the outcome of the mediation and an existing or past relationship with a mediation party or foreseeable participant in the mediation; and
   2. (2) disclose any such known fact to the mediation parties as soon as is practical before accepting a mediation.
2. (b) If a mediator learns any fact described in subsection (a)(1) after accepting a mediation, the mediator shall disclose it as soon as is practicable.
3. (c) At the request of a mediation party, an individual who is requested to serve as a mediator shall disclose the mediator's qualifications to mediate a dispute.
4. (d) A person that violates subsection (a), (b), or
5. (g) is precluded by the violation from asserting a privilege under Section 4.
6. (e) Subsections (a), (b), (c), and
7. (g) do not apply to an individual acting as a judge.
8. (f) This Act does not require that a mediator have a special qualification by background or profession.
9. (g) A mediator must be impartial, unless after disclosure of the facts required in subsections (a) and (b) to be disclosed, the parties agree otherwise.

(Source: P.A. 93-399, eff. 1-1-04.)