SB2481 EngrossedLRB100 17648 HEP 32819 b

1    AN ACT concerning courts.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Court of Claims Act is amended by changing
5Sections 8, 16, 18, 21, 22, and 24 as follows:
 
6    (705 ILCS 505/8)   (from Ch. 37, par. 439.8)
7    Sec. 8. Court of Claims jurisdiction; deliberation
8periods. The court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear
9and determine the following matters:
10    (a) All claims against the State founded upon any law of
11the State of Illinois or upon any regulation adopted thereunder
12by an executive or administrative officer or agency; provided,
13however, the court shall not have jurisdiction (i) to hear or
14determine claims arising under the Workers' Compensation Act or
15the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act, or claims for expenses
16in civil litigation, or (ii) to review administrative decisions
17for which a statute provides that review shall be in the
18circuit or appellate court.
19    (b) All claims against the State founded upon any contract
20entered into with the State of Illinois.
21    (c) All claims against the State for time unjustly served
22in prisons of this State when the person imprisoned received a
23pardon from the governor stating that such pardon is issued on

 

 

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1the ground of innocence of the crime for which he or she was
2imprisoned or he or she received a certificate of innocence
3from the Circuit Court as provided in Section 2-702 of the Code
4of Civil Procedure; provided, the amount of the award is at the
5discretion of the court; and provided, the court shall make no
6award in excess of the following amounts: for imprisonment of 5
7years or less, not more than $85,350; for imprisonment of 14
8years or less but over 5 years, not more than $170,000; for
9imprisonment of over 14 years, not more than $199,150; and
10provided further, the court shall fix attorney's fees not to
11exceed 25% of the award granted. On or after the effective date
12of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the court
13shall annually adjust the maximum awards authorized by this
14subsection (c) to reflect the increase, if any, in the Consumer
15Price Index For All Urban Consumers for the previous calendar
16year, as determined by the United States Department of Labor,
17except that no annual increment may exceed 5%. For the annual
18adjustments, if the Consumer Price Index decreases during a
19calendar year, there shall be no adjustment for that calendar
20year. The transmission by the Prisoner Review Board or the
21clerk of the circuit court of the information described in
22Section 11(b) to the clerk of the Court of Claims is conclusive
23evidence of the validity of the claim. The changes made by this
24amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly apply to all claims
25pending on or filed on or after the effective date.
26    (d) All claims against the State for damages in cases

 

 

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1sounding in tort, if a like cause of action would lie against a
2private person or corporation in a civil suit, and all like
3claims sounding in tort against the Medical Center Commission,
4the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board
5of Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of
6Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of Trustees of
7Eastern Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Governors
8State University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State
9University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois
10University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois
11University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois
12University, or the Board of Trustees of the Illinois
13Mathematics and Science Academy; provided, that an award for
14damages in a case sounding in tort, other than certain cases
15involving the operation of a State vehicle described in this
16paragraph, shall not exceed the sum of $2,000,000 $100,000 to
17or for the benefit of any claimant. The $2,000,000 $100,000
18limit prescribed by this Section does not apply to an award of
19damages in any case sounding in tort arising out of the
20operation by a State employee of a vehicle owned, leased or
21controlled by the State. The defense that the State or the
22Medical Center Commission or the Board of Trustees of the
23University of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern
24Illinois University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State
25University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois
26University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State

 

 

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1University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State University,
2the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the
3Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of
4Trustees of Western Illinois University, or the Board of
5Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy is not
6liable for the negligence of its officers, agents, and
7employees in the course of their employment is not applicable
8to the hearing and determination of such claims. The changes to
9this Section made by this amendatory Act of the 100th General
10Assembly apply only to claims filed on or after July 1, 2015.
11    The court shall annually adjust the maximum awards
12authorized by this subsection to reflect the increase, if any,
13in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers for the
14previous calendar year, as determined by the United States
15Department of Labor. The Comptroller shall make the new amount
16resulting from each annual adjustment available to the public
17via the Comptroller's official website by January 31 of every
18year.
19    (e) All claims for recoupment made by the State of Illinois
20against any claimant.
21    (f) All claims pursuant to the Line of Duty Compensation
22Act. A claim under that Act must be heard and determined within
23one year after the application for that claim is filed with the
24Court as provided in that Act.
25    (g) All claims filed pursuant to the Crime Victims
26Compensation Act.

 

 

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1    (h) All claims pursuant to the Illinois National
2Guardsman's Compensation Act. A claim under that Act must be
3heard and determined within one year after the application for
4that claim is filed with the Court as provided in that Act.
5    (i) All claims authorized by subsection (a) of Section
610-55 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act for the
7expenses incurred by a party in a contested case on the
8administrative level.
9(Source: P.A. 95-970, eff. 9-22-08; 96-80, eff. 7-27-09.)
 
10    (705 ILCS 505/16)  (from Ch. 37, par. 439.16)
11    Sec. 16. Concurrence of judges. Concurrence of 4 judges is
12necessary to the decision of any case, except that the
13signature of one judge is binding if a decision is entered in a
14lapsed appropriation claim in which a motion or stipulation has
15been filed or a decision is entered on a Crime Victims
16Compensation Act claim. The ; provided, however, the court in
17its discretion may assign any case to a commissioner for
18hearing and final decision, subject to whatever right of review
19the court by rule may choose to exercise. In matters involving
20the award of emergency funds under the Crime Victims
21Compensation Act, the decision of one judge is necessary to
22award emergency funds.
23(Source: P.A. 92-286, eff. 1-1-02.)
 
24    (705 ILCS 505/18)  (from Ch. 37, par. 439.18)

 

 

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1    Sec. 18. The court shall provide, by rule, for the
2maintenance of separate records of claims which arise solely
3due to lapsed appropriations and for claims for which amount of
4recovery sought is less than $50,000 $5,000. In all other
5cases, the court or Commissioner as the case may be, shall file
6with its clerk a written opinion in each case upon final
7disposition thereof. All opinions shall be compiled and
8published annually by the clerk of the court.
9(Source: P.A. 90-492, eff. 8-17-97.)
 
10    (705 ILCS 505/21)   (from Ch. 37, par. 439.21)
11    Sec. 21. The court is authorized to impose, by uniform
12rules, a fee of $15 for the filing of a petition in any case in
13which the award sought is more than $50 and less than $1,000
14and $35 in any case in which the award sought is $1,000 or
15more; and to charge and collect for copies of opinions or other
16documents filed in the Court of Claims such fees as may be
17prescribed by the rules of the Court. All fees and charges so
18collected shall be forthwith paid into the State Treasury.
19    A petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois Department of
20Corrections facility who files a pleading, motion, or other
21filing that purports to be a legal document against the State,
22the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Prisoner Review
23Board, or any of their officers or employees in which the court
24makes a specific finding that it is frivolous shall pay all
25filing fees and court costs in the manner provided in Article

 

 

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1XXII of the Code of Civil Procedure.
2    In claims based upon lapsed appropriations or lost warrant
3or in claims filed under the Line of Duty Compensation Act, the
4Illinois National Guardsman's Compensation Act, or the Crime
5Victims Compensation Act or in claims filed by medical vendors
6for medical services rendered by the claimant to persons
7eligible for Medical Assistance under programs administered by
8the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, no filing fee
9shall be required.
10    The changes made to this Section by this amendatory Act of
11the 100th General Assembly apply only to claims filed on or
12after the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 100th
13General Assembly.
14(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)
 
15    (705 ILCS 505/22)  (from Ch. 37, par. 439.22)
16    Sec. 22. Every claim cognizable by the Court and not
17otherwise sooner barred by law shall be forever barred from
18prosecution therein unless it is filed with the Clerk of the
19Court within the time set forth as follows:
20    (a) All claims arising out of a contract must be filed
21within 5 years after it first accrues, saving to minors, and
22persons under legal disability at the time the claim accrues,
23in which cases the claim must be filed within 5 years from the
24time the disability ceases.
25    (b) All claims cognizable against the State by vendors of

 

 

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1goods or services under "The Illinois Public Aid Code",
2approved April 11, 1967, as amended, must file within one year
3after the accrual of the cause of action, as provided in
4Section 11-13 of that Code.
5    (c) All claims arising under paragraph (c) of Section 8 of
6this Act must be automatically heard by the court within 120
7days after the person asserting such claim is either issued a
8certificate of innocence from the Circuit Court as provided in
9Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or is granted a
10pardon by the Governor, whichever occurs later, without the
11person asserting the claim being required to file a petition
12under Section 11 of this Act, except as otherwise provided by
13the Crime Victims Compensation Act. Any claims filed by the
14claimant under paragraph (c) of Section 8 of this Act must be
15filed within 2 years after the person asserting such claim is
16either issued a certificate of innocence as provided in Section
172-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or is granted a pardon by
18the Governor, whichever occurs later.
19    (d) All claims arising under paragraph (f) of Section 8 of
20this Act must be filed within the time set forth in Section 3
21of the Line of Duty Compensation Act.
22    (e) All claims arising under paragraph (h) of Section 8 of
23this Act must be filed within one year of the date of the death
24of the guardsman or militiaman as provided in Section 3 of the
25"Illinois National Guardsman's and Naval Militiaman's
26Compensation Act", approved August 12, 1971, as amended.

 

 

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1    (f) All claims arising under paragraph (g) of Section 8 of
2this Act must be filed within one year of the crime on which a
3claim is based as provided in Section 6.1 of the "Crime Victims
4Compensation Act", approved August 23, 1973, as amended.
5    (g) All claims arising from the Comptroller's refusal to
6issue a replacement warrant pursuant to Section 10.10 of the
7State Comptroller Act must be filed within 5 years after the
8date of the Comptroller's refusal issue date of such warrant.
9    (h) All other claims must be filed within 2 years after it
10first accrues, saving to minors, and persons under legal
11disability at the time the claim accrues, in which case the
12claim must be filed within 2 years from the time the disability
13ceases.
14    (i) The changes made by Public Act 86-458 this amendatory
15Act of 1989 shall apply to all warrants issued within the 5
16year period preceding August 31, 1989 (the effective date of
17Public Act 86-458) this amendatory Act of 1989. The changes
18made to this Section by this amendatory Act of the 100th
19General Assembly apply to claims pending on the effective date
20of this amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly and to
21claims filed thereafter.
22    (j) All time limitations established under this Act and the
23rules promulgated under this Act shall be binding and
24jurisdictional, except upon extension authorized by law or rule
25and granted pursuant to a motion timely filed.
26(Source: P.A. 95-928, eff. 8-26-08; 95-970, eff. 9-22-08;

 

 

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196-328, eff. 8-11-09.)
 
2    (705 ILCS 505/24)  (from Ch. 37, par. 439.24)
3    Sec. 24. Payment of awards.
4    (1) From funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the
5purposes of this Section the Court may direct immediate payment
6of:
7        (a) All claims arising solely as a result of the
8    lapsing of an appropriation out of which the obligation
9    could have been paid.
10        (b) All claims pursuant to the Line of Duty
11    Compensation Act.
12        (c) All claims pursuant to the "Illinois National
13    Guardsman's and Naval Militiaman's Compensation Act",
14    approved August 12, 1971, as amended.
15        (d) All claims pursuant to the "Crime Victims
16    Compensation Act", approved August 23, 1973, as amended.
17        (d-5) All claims against the State for unjust
18    imprisonment as provided in subsection (c) of Section 8 of
19    this Act.
20        (e) All other claims wherein the amount of the award of
21    the Court is less than $50,000 $5,000.
22    (2) The court may, from funds specifically appropriated
23from the General Revenue Fund for this purpose, direct the
24payment of awards less than $50,000 solely as a result of the
25lapsing of an appropriation originally made from any fund held

 

 

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1by the State Treasurer. For any such award paid from the
2General Revenue Fund, the court shall thereafter seek an
3appropriation from the fund from which the liability originally
4accrued in reimbursement of the General Revenue Fund.
5    (3) In directing payment of a claim pursuant to the Line of
6Duty Compensation Act, the Court must direct the Comptroller to
7add an interest penalty if payment of a claim is not made
8within 6 months after a claim is filed in accordance with
9Section 3 of the Line of Duty Compensation Act and all
10information has been submitted as required under Section 4 of
11the Line of Duty Compensation Act. If payment is not issued
12within the 6-month period, an interest penalty of 1% of the
13amount of the award shall be added for each month or fraction
14thereof after the end of the 6-month period, until final
15payment is made. This interest penalty shall be added
16regardless of whether the payment is not issued within the
176-month period because of the appropriation process, the
18consideration of the matter by the Court, or any other reason.
19    (3.5) The interest penalty payment provided for in
20subsection (3) shall be added to all claims for which benefits
21were not paid as of the effective date of P.A. 95-928. The
22interest penalty shall be calculated starting from the
23effective date of P.A. 95-928, provided that the effective date
24of P.A. 95-928 is at least 6 months after the date on which the
25claim was filed in accordance with Section 3 of the Line of
26Duty Compensation Act. In the event that the date 6 months

 

 

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1after the date on which the claim was filed is later than the
2effective date of P.A. 95-928, the Court shall calculate the
3interest payment penalty starting from the date 6 months after
4the date on which the claim was filed in accordance with
5Section 3 of the Line of Duty Compensation Act. This subsection
6(3.5) of this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly is
7declarative of existing law.
8    (3.6) In addition to the interest payments provided for in
9subsections (3) and (3.5), the Court shall direct the
10Comptroller to add a "catch-up" payment to the claims of
11eligible claimants. For the purposes of this subsection (3.6),
12an "eligible claimant" is a claimant whose claim is not paid in
13the year in which it was filed. For purposes of this subsection
14(3.6), "'catch-up' payment" is defined as the difference
15between the amount paid to claimants whose claims were filed in
16the year in which the eligible claimant's claim is paid and the
17amount paid to claimants whose claims were filed in the year in
18which the eligible claimant filed his or her claim. The
19"catch-up" payment is payable simultaneously with the claim
20award.
21    (4) From funds appropriated by the General Assembly for the
22purposes of paying claims under paragraph (c) of Section 8, the
23court must direct payment of each claim and the payment must be
24received by the claimant within 60 days after the date that the
25funds are appropriated for that purpose.
26(Source: P.A. 95-928, eff. 8-26-08; 95-970, eff. 9-22-08;

 

 

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196-328, eff. 8-11-09; 96-539, eff. 1-1-10.)
 
2    Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
3severable under Section 1.31 of the Statute on Statutes.
 
4    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
5becoming law.