State of Illinois
90th General Assembly
Legislation

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90_SB0381enr

      705 ILCS 105/27.7 new
      705 ILCS 505/21           from Ch. 37, par. 439.21
      725 ILCS 5/122-4          from Ch. 38, par. 122-4
      730 ILCS 5/3-4-3          from Ch. 38, par. 1003-4-3
      730 ILCS 5/3-12-5         from Ch. 38, par. 1003-12-5
      735 ILCS 5/Art. XXII heading new
      735 ILCS 5/22-105 new
          Amends the Clerks of Court Act, the Court of Claims  Act,
      the  Code  of Criminal Procedure of 1963, the Unified Code of
      Corrections, and the Code of Civil Procedure.  Provides  that
      if  a  prisoner  files certain frivolous lawsuits against the
      State, Illinois Department of Corrections,  or  the  Prisoner
      Review  Board  or against any of their officers or employees,
      the prisoner shall be responsible for paying for the costs of
      the lawsuit.  Provides for a deduction  from  the  prisoner's
      account to pay for these costs.  Effective immediately.
                                                     LRB9001056RCks
SB381 Enrolled                                 LRB9001056RCks
 1        AN ACT in relation to courts and appeals.
 2        Be  it  enacted  by  the People of the State of Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:
 4        Section 2.  The Court Reporter Transcript Act is  amended
 5    by changing Sections 3, 4, and 5 as follows:
 6        (705 ILCS 75/3) (from Ch. 37, par. 663)
 7        Sec.  3.  Upon  order  of  the  court, the official court
 8    reporter shall transcribe and furnish an original and a  copy
 9    or copies of the pre-trial proceedings and the proceedings at
10    the  trial  of  any person where, pursuant to Rule 607 of the
11    Illinois  Supreme  Court,  an  order  could  be  entered   so
12    requiring, if the defendant is convicted.
13    (Source: P.A. 77-743.)
14        (705 ILCS 75/4) (from Ch. 37, par. 664)
15        Sec.  4.   The  reporter, in full for all his services in
16    connection with the transcribing and filing or furnishing the
17    transcripts referred to in this Act, shall be paid a  fee  as
18    provided  in  Section  5 of the Court Reporters Act, approved
19    August 5, 1965, as amended. All such fees shall be  paid  out
20    of  the  State  Treasury on the warrant of the Supreme Court,
21    from appropriations made for such purpose, upon  presentation
22    of  a  certificate  signed by the presiding judge setting the
23    amount due said reporter. Such certificate shall as  to  each
24    original  transcript  (and  a  copy or copies where fee for a
25    copy or copies is authorized by statute or  Illinois  Supreme
26    Court  Rule)  set  forth the title and number of the cause in
27    which the transcript was required to be furnished, the nature
28    of  the  proceedings  transcribed  (whether  an  arraignment,
29    proceedings   at   criminal   trial   or    proceedings    at
30    post-conviction  hearing)  and the fee approved therefor. The
SB381 Enrolled             -2-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    Supreme Court may prescribe the form of the  certificate  and
 2    furnish same.
 3    (Source: P.A. 77-743.)
 4        (705 ILCS 75/5) (from Ch. 37, par. 665)
 5        Sec.  5.  Where  the  court has authorized a person other
 6    than the official reporter who took the stenographic notes to
 7    transcribe  the  same  the  person  making  and   filing   or
 8    furnishing  such  transcript  (and  a  copy  or  copies  when
 9    authorized   by   statute  or  Illinois  Supreme  Court  Rule
10    required) shall be entitled to the fee.
11    (Source: Laws 1957, p. 2222.)
12        Section 5.  The Clerks of Courts Act is amended,  if  and
13    only  if  House  Bill  2138 does not become law by August 31,
14    1997  in  the  form  in  which  it  passed   the   House   of
15    Representatives, by adding Section 27.7 as follows:
16        (705 ILCS 105/27.7 new)
17        Sec. 27.7.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
18        (a) The fees of the clerks of the circuit court shall not
19    be  waived  for a petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois
20    Department of Corrections  facility  who  files  a  pleading,
21    motion,  or other filing that purports to be a legal document
22    in a lawsuit seeking post-conviction relief under Article 122
23    of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or a habeas  corpus
24    action under Article X of the Code of Civil Procedure and the
25    defendant   is   the   State,   the  Illinois  Department  of
26    Corrections, or the Prisoner Review Board  or  any  of  their
27    officers or employees, and the court makes a specific finding
28    that  the  pleading, motion, or other filing that purports to
29    be a legal document is frivolous.
30        (b)  "Frivolous" means that a pleading, motion, or  other
31    filing  which  purports  to  be  a  legal document filed by a
SB381 Enrolled             -3-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    prisoner in his or her  lawsuit  meets  any  or  all  of  the
 2    following criteria:
 3             (1)  it  lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
 4        fact;
 5             (2)  it is being presented for any improper purpose,
 6        such as to  harass  or  to  cause  unnecessary  delay  or
 7        needless increase in the cost of litigation;
 8             (3)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
 9        contentions  therein are not warranted by existing law or
10        by   a   nonfrivolous   argument   for   the   extension,
11        modification,  or  reversal  of  existing  law   or   the
12        establishment of new law;
13             (4)  the  allegations  and other factual contentions
14        do not have evidentiary support or,  if  specifically  so
15        identified,  are  not  likely to have evidentiary support
16        after a reasonable opportunity for further  investigation
17        or discovery; or
18             (5)  the  denials  of  factual  contentions  are not
19        warranted  on  the  evidence,  or  if   specifically   so
20        identified,  are  not  reasonably  based  on  a  lack  of
21        information or belief.
22        Section  6.  The  Clerks of Courts Act is amended, if and
23    only if House Bill 2138 becomes law by August 31, 1997 in the
24    form in which it passed  the  House  of  Representatives,  by
25    adding Section 27.7 as follows:
26        (705 ILCS 105/27.7 new)
27        Sec. 27.7.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
28        (a) The fees of the clerks of the circuit court shall not
29    be  waived  for a petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois
30    Department of Corrections  facility  who  files  a  pleading,
31    motion, or other filing which purports to be a legal document
32    in a lawsuit seeking post-conviction relief under Article 122
SB381 Enrolled             -4-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    of  the  Code  of  Criminal  Procedure  of  1963, pursuant to
 2    Section 116-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of  1963,  or
 3    in  a  habeas  corpus  action  under Article X of the Code of
 4    Civil Procedure and the defendant is the State, the  Illinois
 5    Department  of  Corrections,  or the Prisoner Review Board or
 6    any of their officers or employees, and  the  court  makes  a
 7    specific  finding  that the pleading, motion, or other filing
 8    which purports to be a legal document is frivolous.
 9        (b)  "Frivolous" means that a pleading, motion, or  other
10    filing  which  purports  to  be  a  legal document filed by a
11    prisoner in his or her  lawsuit  meets  any  or  all  of  the
12    following criteria:
13             (1)  it  lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
14        fact;
15             (2)  it is being presented for any improper purpose,
16        such as to  harass  or  to  cause  unnecessary  delay  or
17        needless increase in the cost of litigation;
18             (3)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
19        contentions  therein are not warranted by existing law or
20        by   a   nonfrivolous   argument   for   the   extension,
21        modification,  or  reversal  of  existing  law   or   the
22        establishment of new law;
23             (4)  the  allegations  and other factual contentions
24        do not have evidentiary support or,  if  specifically  so
25        identified,  are  not  likely to have evidentiary support
26        after a reasonable opportunity for further  investigation
27        or discovery; or
28             (5)  the  denials  of  factual  contentions  are not
29        warranted  on  the  evidence,  or  if   specifically   so
30        identified,  are  not  reasonably  based  on  a  lack  of
31        information or belief.
32        Section  10.   The  Court  of  Claims  Act  is amended by
33    changing Section 21 as follows:
SB381 Enrolled             -5-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1        (705 ILCS 505/21) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.21)
 2        Sec. 21. The court is authorized to  impose,  by  uniform
 3    rules,  a fee of $15 for the filing of a petition in any case
 4    in which the award sought is more  than  $50  and  less  than
 5    $1,000  and  $35  in  any  case  in which the award sought is
 6    $1,000 or more; and to  charge  and  collect  for  copies  of
 7    opinions or other documents filed in the Court of Claims such
 8    fees as may be prescribed by the rules of the Court. All fees
 9    and  charges  so  collected  shall be forthwith paid into the
10    State Treasury. A petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois
11    Department of Corrections  facility  who  files  a  pleading,
12    motion,  or other filing that purports to be a legal document
13    against the State, the Illinois  Department  of  Corrections,
14    the  Prisoner  Review  Board,  or  any  of  their officers or
15    employees in which the court makes a specific finding that it
16    is frivolous shall pay all filing fees and court costs in the
17    manner  provided  in  Article  XXII  of  the  Code  of  Civil
18    Procedure.
19    (Source: P.A. 83-865.)
20        Section 15.  The Code of Criminal Procedure  of  1963  is
21    amended by changing Section 122-4 as follows:
22        (725 ILCS 5/122-4) (from Ch. 38, par. 122-4)
23        Sec.  122-4.  Pauper  Petitions.  If  the petition is not
24    dismissed pursuant to Section 122-2.1, and alleges  that  the
25    petitioner  is unable to pay the costs of the proceeding, the
26    court may order that the petitioner be permitted  to  proceed
27    as  a  poor  person and order a transcript of the proceedings
28    delivered to  petitioner  in  accordance  with  Rule  of  the
29    Supreme  Court.   If  the  petitioner  is without counsel and
30    alleges that he is without means to procure counsel, he shall
31    state whether or not he wishes counsel  to  be  appointed  to
32    represent  him.   If  appointment of counsel is so requested,
SB381 Enrolled             -6-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    and  the  petition  is  not  dismissed  pursuant  to  Section
 2    122-2.1, the court shall appoint counsel  if  satisfied  that
 3    the  petitioner has no means to procure counsel. A petitioner
 4    who is a prisoner in an Illinois  Department  of  Corrections
 5    facility  who  files a pleading, motion, or other filing that
 6    purports to  be  a  legal  document  seeking  post-conviction
 7    relief  under  this  Article  against the State, the Illinois
 8    Department of Corrections, the Prisoner Review Board, or  any
 9    of  their  officers  or  employees in which the court makes a
10    specific finding that the pleading, motion, or  other  filing
11    that  purports  to be a legal document is frivolous shall not
12    proceed as a poor person and shall be  liable  for  the  full
13    payment  of filing fees and actual court costs as provided in
14    Article XXII of the Code of Civil Procedure.
15        A Circuit Court or the Illinois Supreme Court may appoint
16    the  State  Appellate  Defender  to  provide  post-conviction
17    representation in a case in which the defendant is  sentenced
18    to  death.   Any attorney assigned by the Office of the State
19    Appellate Defender to provide post-conviction  representation
20    for indigent defendants in cases in which a sentence of death
21    was  imposed in the trial court may, from time to time submit
22    bills and time sheets to the Office of  the  State  Appellate
23    Defender  for  payment of services rendered and the Office of
24    the State Appellate  Defender  shall  pay  bills  from  funds
25    appropriated  for  this  purpose  in  accordance  with  rules
26    promulgated by the State Appellate Defender.
27        The  court,  at  the  conclusion  of the proceedings upon
28    receipt  of  a  petition  by  the  appointed  counsel,  shall
29    determine a reasonable  amount  to  be  allowed  an  indigent
30    defendant's  counsel  other  than  the Public Defender or the
31    State Appellate Defender for compensation  and  reimbursement
32    of expenditures necessarily incurred in the proceedings.  The
33    compensation shall not exceed $500 in each case, except that,
34    in  extraordinary  circumstances,  payment  in  excess of the
SB381 Enrolled             -7-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    limits herein stated may be made if the trial court certifies
 2    that the payment is necessary to  provide  fair  compensation
 3    for  protracted representation, and the amount is approved by
 4    the chief judge of the circuit.  The  court  shall  enter  an
 5    order  directing the county treasurer of the county where the
 6    case was tried to pay  the  amount  thereby  allowed  by  the
 7    court.   The  court may order the provisional payment of sums
 8    during the pendency of the cause.
 9    (Source: P.A. 87-580.)
10        Section 16.  The State Appellate Defender Act is  amended
11    by changing Section 10.5 as follows:
12        (725 ILCS 105/10.5)
13        Sec. 10.5.  Competitive bidding for appellate services.
14        (a)  To  the  extent  necessary  to  dispose of the State
15    Appellate Defender's backlog of  indigent  criminal  appeals,
16    The  State Appellate Defender may, to the extent necessary to
17    dispose  of  its  backlog  of  indigent   criminal   appeals,
18    institute  a  competitive  bidding  program under which shall
19    provide  that  contracts  for  the  services   of   attorneys
20    representing  indigent  defendants  on  appeal  in  non-death
21    penalty  criminal  appeals are cases shall be awarded under a
22    competitive selection  procedure  which  shall  provide  that
23    those contracts be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.
24        (b)  The  State  Appellate  Defender,  before letting out
25    bids for contracts for the services of attorneys to represent
26    indigent  defendants  on  appeal  in  criminal  cases,  shall
27    advertise the  letting  of  the  bids  in  a  publication  or
28    publications  of  the  Illinois  State  Bar  Association, the
29    Chicago Daily Law Bulletin,  and  the  Chicago  Lawyer.   The
30    State  Appellate Defender shall also advertise the letting of
31    the bids  in  newspapers  of  general  circulation  in  major
32    municipalities  to  be  determined  by  the  State  Appellate
SB381 Enrolled             -8-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    Defender.  The State Appellate Defender shall mail notices of
 2    the letting of the bids to county and local bar associations.
 3        (c)  Bids may shall be let in packages of one to , 5, 10,
 4    and  20  appeals.   Additional  cases may be assigned, in the
 5    discretion  of  the  State  Appellate   Defender,   after   a
 6    successful bidder completes work on existing packages.
 7        (d)  A bid for services of an attorney under this Section
 8    shall  be let only to an attorney licensed to practice law in
 9    Illinois who has prior criminal appellate experience or to an
10    attorney who is a member or employee of a law firm which  has
11    at  least  one  member  with  that  who  has  prior appellate
12    experience. Prospective bidders must  furnish  legal  writing
13    samples  that  are  deemed  acceptable to the State Appellate
14    Defender.
15        (e)  An attorney who is awarded  a  contract  under  this
16    Section shall communicate with each of his or her clients and
17    shall file each initial brief before the due date established
18    by  Supreme  Court Rule or by the Appellate Court.  The State
19    Appellate Defender may  rescind  the  contract  for  attorney
20    services  and  may require the return of the record on appeal
21    if  the  contracted  attorney  fails  to  make   satisfactory
22    progress,  in  the  opinion  of the State Appellate Defender,
23    toward filing a brief.
24        (f)  Gross compensation for completing of a case shall be
25    $40 per hour but shall  not  exceed  $2,000  per  case.   The
26    contract shall specify the manner of payment.
27        (g)  (Blank) On the effective date of this amendatory Act
28    of  1996,  the  State  Appellate Defender shall segregate the
29    backlog of appeals  not  yet  processed  by  staff  attorneys
30    employed by the State Appellate Defender.
31        (h)  (Blank)  Contracted  attorneys  under  this  Section
32    shall  represent only indigent defendants from the backlog of
33    appeals.  Upon completion of the backlog, no  contract  shall
34    be let for attorney services by competitive bid.
SB381 Enrolled             -9-                 LRB9001056RCks
 1    (Source: P.A. 89-689, eff. 12-31-96.)
 2        Section  20.   The Unified Code of Corrections is amended
 3    by changing Sections 3-4-3, 3-6-3, and 3-12-5 as follows:
 4        (730 ILCS 5/3-4-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-4-3)
 5        Sec. 3-4-3.  Funds and Property of Persons Committed.
 6        (a)  The Department shall  establish  accounting  records
 7    with accounts for each person who has or receives money while
 8    in  an institution or facility of the Department and it shall
 9    allow the withdrawal and disbursement of money by the  person
10    under  rules  and regulations of the Department. Any interest
11    or other income from moneys deposited with the Department  by
12    a  resident  of the Juvenile Division in excess of $200 shall
13    accrue to the individual's account, or in balances up to $200
14    shall  accrue  to  the  Residents'  Benefit  Fund.   For   an
15    individual  in  an  institution  or  facility  of  the  Adult
16    Division  the interest shall accrue to the Residents' Benefit
17    Fund.  The Department shall disburse all moneys  so  held  no
18    later  than the person's final discharge from the Department.
19    Moneys in the account of  a  committed  person  who  files  a
20    lawsuit  determined  frivolous under Article XXII of the Code
21    of Civil Procedure shall be deducted to pay  for  the  filing
22    fees  and  cost  of the suit as provided in that Article. The
23    Department shall  under  rules  and  regulations  record  and
24    receipt  all  personal  property  not  allowed  to  committed
25    persons.  The  Department  shall  return such property to the
26    individual no later than the person's release on parole.
27        (b)  Any money held  in  accounts  of  committed  persons
28    separated   from  the  Department  by  death,  discharge,  or
29    unauthorized absence and unclaimed for a  period  of  1  year
30    thereafter by the person or his legal representative shall be
31    transmitted  to the State Treasurer who shall deposit it into
32    the General Revenue Fund. Articles of  personal  property  of
SB381 Enrolled             -10-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    persons so separated may be sold or used by the Department if
 2    unclaimed  for  a  period  of  1  year  for the same purpose.
 3    Clothing, if  unclaimed  within  30  days,  may  be  used  or
 4    disposed of as determined by the Department.
 5        (c)  Profits  on  sales  from  commissary stores shall be
 6    expended  by  the  Department  for  the  special  benefit  of
 7    committed persons which shall include but not be  limited  to
 8    the  advancement  of inmate payrolls, for the special benefit
 9    of employees, and for the  advancement  or  reimbursement  of
10    employee travel, provided that amounts expended for employees
11    shall  not  exceed  the  amount of profits derived from sales
12    made to employees by such commissaries, as determined by  the
13    Department.
14        (d)  The  Department  shall  confiscate  any unauthorized
15    currency found in the possession of a committed person.   The
16    Department  shall  transmit  the  confiscated currency to the
17    State Treasurer who shall deposit it into the General Revenue
18    Fund.
19    (Source: P.A. 89-689, eff. 12-31-96.)
20        (730 ILCS 5/3-6-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-6-3)
21        Sec. 3-6-3.  Rules and Regulations for Early Release.
22        (a)(1)  The Department  of  Corrections  shall  prescribe
23        rules and regulations for the early release on account of
24        good conduct of persons committed to the Department which
25        shall be subject to review by the Prisoner Review Board.
26             (2)  The  rules  and  regulations  on  early release
27        shall provide, with respect to offenses committed  on  or
28        after  the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1995,
29        the following:
30                  (i)  that a prisoner who is serving a  term  of
31             imprisonment  for  first degree murder shall receive
32             no good conduct credit and shall  serve  the  entire
33             sentence imposed by the court;
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 1                  (ii)  that  a  prisoner  serving a sentence for
 2             attempt to commit first degree murder,  solicitation
 3             of   murder,   solicitation   of  murder  for  hire,
 4             intentional homicide of an unborn  child,  predatory
 5             criminal  sexual  assault  of  a  child,  aggravated
 6             criminal  sexual  assault,  criminal sexual assault,
 7             aggravated kidnapping,  aggravated  battery  with  a
 8             firearm,  heinous  battery,  aggravated battery of a
 9             senior citizen, or aggravated  battery  of  a  child
10             shall  receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct
11             credit for each month of  his  or  her  sentence  of
12             imprisonment; and
13                  (iii)  that  a  prisoner serving a sentence for
14             home invasion, armed robbery,  aggravated  vehicular
15             hijacking,  aggravated  discharge  of  a firearm, or
16             armed violence with a category I weapon or  category
17             II  weapon,  when  the  court has made and entered a
18             finding, pursuant to  subsection  (c-1)  of  Section
19             5-4-1  of  this  Code,  that  the conduct leading to
20             conviction for the enumerated  offense  resulted  in
21             great bodily harm to a victim, shall receive no more
22             than  4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month
23             of his or her sentence of imprisonment.
24             (2.1)  For all offenses, other than those enumerated
25        in subdivision (a)(2) committed on or after the effective
26        date of this  amendatory  Act  of  1995,  the  rules  and
27        regulations  shall provide that a prisoner who is serving
28        a term of imprisonment shall  receive  one  day  of  good
29        conduct  credit  for  each  day of his or her sentence of
30        imprisonment or recommitment under  Section  3-3-9.  Each
31        day  of  good  conduct credit shall reduce by one day the
32        prisoner's period of imprisonment or  recommitment  under
33        Section 3-3-9.
34             (2.2)  A  prisoner  serving  a  term of natural life
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 1        imprisonment or a prisoner  who  has  been  sentenced  to
 2        death shall receive no good conduct credit.
 3             (3)  The  rules  and  regulations shall also provide
 4        that the Director may award up  to  180  days  additional
 5        good  conduct  credit for meritorious service in specific
 6        instances as the Director deems proper;  except  that  no
 7        more  than 90 days of good conduct credit for meritorious
 8        service shall be awarded to any prisoner who is serving a
 9        sentence for conviction of first degree murder,  reckless
10        homicide  while  under  the  influence  of alcohol or any
11        other drug, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping,  predatory
12        criminal  sexual  assault of a child, aggravated criminal
13        sexual assault, criminal sexual assault,  deviate  sexual
14        assault,  aggravated  criminal  sexual  abuse, aggravated
15        indecent liberties with a child, indecent liberties  with
16        a  child,  child pornography, heinous battery, aggravated
17        battery of a spouse, aggravated battery of a spouse  with
18        a  firearm,  stalking,  aggravated  stalking,  aggravated
19        battery  of  a child, endangering the life or health of a
20        child, cruelty to  a  child,  or  narcotic  racketeering.
21        Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  good conduct credit for
22        meritorious service shall not be awarded on a sentence of
23        imprisonment  imposed  for  conviction  of  one  of   the
24        offenses   enumerated  in  subdivision  (a)(2)  when  the
25        offense is committed on or after the  effective  date  of
26        this amendatory Act of 1995.
27             (4)  The  rules  and  regulations shall also provide
28        that the good conduct  credit  accumulated  and  retained
29        under  paragraph  (2.1) of subsection (a) of this Section
30        by any inmate during specific periods of  time  in  which
31        such  inmate  is  engaged  full-time  in  substance abuse
32        programs,   correctional   industry    assignments,    or
33        educational  programs  provided  by  the Department under
34        this  paragraph  (4)  and  satisfactorily  completes  the
SB381 Enrolled             -13-                LRB9001056RCks
 1        assigned program as determined by the  standards  of  the
 2        Department,  shall  be multiplied by a factor of 1.25 for
 3        program participation before the effective date  of  this
 4        amendatory Act of 1993 and 1.50 for program participation
 5        on  or  after  that  date.    However, no inmate shall be
 6        eligible for the additional  good  conduct  credit  under
 7        this  paragraph (4) while assigned to a boot camp, mental
 8        health unit, or electronic detention, or if convicted  of
 9        an offense enumerated in paragraph (a)(2) of this Section
10        that  is committed on or after the effective date of this
11        amendatory Act of 1995, or first degree murder, a Class X
12        felony, criminal sexual assault, felony  criminal  sexual
13        abuse,   aggravated  criminal  sexual  abuse,  aggravated
14        battery with a firearm, or any predecessor  or  successor
15        offenses   with   the  same  or  substantially  the  same
16        elements,  or  any  inchoate  offenses  relating  to  the
17        foregoing offenses.  No inmate shall be eligible for  the
18        additional  good  conduct credit under this paragraph (4)
19        who (i) has previously received  increased  good  conduct
20        credit under this paragraph (4) and has subsequently been
21        convicted of a felony, or (ii) has previously served more
22        than  one  prior sentence of imprisonment for a felony in
23        an adult correctional facility.
24             Educational,   vocational,   substance   abuse   and
25        correctional industry programs under which  good  conduct
26        credit may be increased under this paragraph (4) shall be
27        evaluated  by  the  Department on the basis of documented
28        standards.  The Department shall report  the  results  of
29        these   evaluations  to  the  Governor  and  the  General
30        Assembly by September 30th of  each  year.   The  reports
31        shall  include data relating to the recidivism rate among
32        program participants.
33             Availability of these programs shall be  subject  to
34        the  limits  of  fiscal  resources  appropriated  by  the
SB381 Enrolled             -14-                LRB9001056RCks
 1        General  Assembly  for  these purposes.  Eligible inmates
 2        who are denied immediate admission shall be placed  on  a
 3        waiting   list   under   criteria   established   by  the
 4        Department. The inability of any inmate to become engaged
 5        in any such programs by reason  of  insufficient  program
 6        resources  or  for any other reason established under the
 7        rules and regulations of  the  Department  shall  not  be
 8        deemed  a  cause  of action under which the Department or
 9        any employee or agent of the Department shall  be  liable
10        for damages to the inmate.
11             (5)  Whenever  the  Department  is  to  release  any
12        inmate earlier than it otherwise would because of a grant
13        of  good  conduct credit for meritorious service given at
14        any time during  the  term,  the  Department  shall  give
15        reasonable advance notice of the impending release to the
16        State's  Attorney  of the county where the prosecution of
17        the inmate took place.
18        (b)  Whenever a person is or  has  been  committed  under
19    several  convictions,  with separate sentences, the sentences
20    shall be  construed  under  Section  5-8-4  in  granting  and
21    forfeiting of good time.
22        (c)  The Department shall prescribe rules and regulations
23    for  revoking  good conduct credit, or suspending or reducing
24    the rate of accumulation of good conduct credit for  specific
25    rule   violations,  during  imprisonment.   These  rules  and
26    regulations shall provide that no  inmate  may  be  penalized
27    more  than  one  year  of  good  conduct  credit  for any one
28    infraction.
29        When the Department seeks to revoke,  suspend  or  reduce
30    the  rate  of accumulation of any good conduct credits for an
31    alleged infraction of  its  rules,  it  shall  bring  charges
32    therefor  against  the  prisoner  sought to be so deprived of
33    good conduct credits before  the  Prisoner  Review  Board  as
34    provided  in  subparagraph  (a)(4)  of  Section 3-3-2 of this
SB381 Enrolled             -15-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Code, if the amount of credit at issue  exceeds  30  days  or
 2    when  during  any  12  month period, the cumulative amount of
 3    credit revoked exceeds 30 days except where the infraction is
 4    committed or discovered within 60 days of scheduled  release.
 5    In  those  cases, the Department of Corrections may revoke up
 6    to 30 days of good conduct credit. The Board may subsequently
 7    approve the revocation of additional good conduct credit,  if
 8    the  Department seeks to revoke good conduct credit in excess
 9    of 30 days.  However, the Board shall  not  be  empowered  to
10    review  the Department's decision with respect to the loss of
11    30 days of good conduct credit within any calendar  year  for
12    any  prisoner  or  to  increase any penalty beyond the length
13    requested by the Department.
14        The  Director  of  the  Department  of  Corrections,   in
15    appropriate  cases,  may  restore  up to 30 days good conduct
16    credits which have been revoked, suspended  or  reduced.  Any
17    restoration  of  good  conduct  credits  in excess of 30 days
18    shall be subject to review  by  the  Prisoner  Review  Board.
19    However,  the  Board  may  not restore good conduct credit in
20    excess of the amount requested by the Director.
21        Nothing contained in  this  Section  shall  prohibit  the
22    Prisoner  Review  Board  from  ordering,  pursuant to Section
23    3-3-9(a)(3)(i)(B), that a prisoner serve up to  one  year  of
24    the  sentence imposed by the court that was not served due to
25    the accumulation of good conduct credit.
26        (d)  If a lawsuit is filed by a prisoner in  an  Illinois
27    or  federal  court  against  the  State,  the  Department  of
28    Corrections,  or the Prisoner Review Board, or against any of
29    their officers or employees, and the court makes  a  specific
30    finding  that a pleading, motion, or other paper filed by the
31    prisoner is frivolous, the Department  of  Corrections  shall
32    conduct  a  hearing  to revoke up to 180 days of good conduct
33    credit by bringing charges against the prisoner sought to  be
34    deprived  of  the  good  conduct  credits before the Prisoner
SB381 Enrolled             -16-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Review Board as provided in subparagraph  (a)(8)  of  Section
 2    3-3-2  of  this Code. If the prisoner has not accumulated 180
 3    days of good conduct credit at the time of the finding,  then
 4    the  Prisoner Review Board may revoke all good conduct credit
 5    accumulated by the prisoner.
 6        For purposes of this subsection (d):
 7             (1)  "Frivolous" means that a pleading,  motion,  or
 8        other  filing which purports to be a legal document filed
 9        by a prisoner in his or her lawsuit meets any or  all  of
10        the following criteria:
11                  (A)  it  lacks  an arguable basis either in law
12             or in fact;
13                  (B)  it is being  presented  for  any  improper
14             purpose,  such  as to harass or to cause unnecessary
15             delay  or  needless  increase   in   the   cost   of
16             litigation;
17                  (C)  the  claims,  defenses,  and  other  legal
18             contentions  therein  are  not warranted by existing
19             law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension,
20             modification, or reversal of  existing  law  or  the
21             establishment of new law;
22                  (D)  the    allegations   and   other   factual
23             contentions do not have evidentiary support  or,  if
24             specifically  so  identified, are not likely to have
25             evidentiary support after a  reasonable  opportunity
26             for further investigation or discovery; or
27                  (E)  the denials of factual contentions are not
28             warranted  on  the  evidence,  or if specifically so
29             identified, are not reasonably based on  a  lack  of
30             information  or  belief.  "Frivolous"  means  that a
31             pleading, motion, or other paper filed by a prisoner
32             in his or her lawsuit does not  meet  the  following
33             criteria:
34                  (A)  it is not being presented for any improper
SB381 Enrolled             -17-                LRB9001056RCks
 1             purpose,  such  as to harass or to cause unnecessary
 2             delay  or  needless  increase   in   the   cost   of
 3             litigation;
 4                  (B)  the  claims,  defenses,  and  other  legal
 5             contentions therein are warranted by existing law or
 6             by   a  nonfrivolous  argument  for  the  extension,
 7             modification, or reversal of  existing  law  or  the
 8             establishment of new law;
 9                  (C)  the    allegations   and   other   factual
10             contentions  have   evidentiary   support   or,   if
11             specifically  so  identified,  are  likely  to  have
12             evidentiary  support  after a reasonable opportunity
13             for further investigation or discovery; and
14                  (D)  the denials  of  factual  contentions  are
15             warranted  on  the  evidence  or, if specifically so
16             identified,  are  reasonably  based  on  a  lack  of
17             information or belief.
18             (2)  "Lawsuit" means a petition for post  conviction
19        relief   under  Article  122  of  the  Code  of  Criminal
20        Procedure of 1963, a habeas corpus action under Article X
21        of the Code of Civil Procedure or under federal  law  (28
22        U.S.C.  2254),  a  petition  for claim under the Court of
23        Claims Act or an action under the  federal  Civil  Rights
24        Act (42 U.S.C. 1983).
25    (Source:  P.A.  88-311; 88-402; 88-670, eff. 12-2-94; 89-404,
26    eff. 8-20-95; 89-428, eff. 12-13-95;  89-462,  eff.  5-29-96;
27    89-656, eff. 1-1-97.)
28        (730 ILCS 5/3-12-5) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-12-5)
29        Sec.  3-12-5.  Compensation.   Persons  performing a work
30    assignment under subsection (a) of Section 3-12-2 may receive
31    wages  under rules and regulations  of  the  Department.   In
32    determining  rates  of  compensation,  the  Department  shall
33    consider  the  effort,  skill  and economic value of the work
SB381 Enrolled             -18-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    performed.    Compensation  may  be  given  to  persons   who
 2    participate  in  other  programs  of  the Department.  Of the
 3    compensation earned pursuant to this Section, a  portion,  as
 4    determined  by  the  Department,  shall be used to offset the
 5    cost  of  the  committed  person's  incarceration.   If   the
 6    committed  person  files a lawsuit determined frivolous under
 7    Article XXII of the Code  of  Civil  Procedure,  50%  of  the
 8    compensation  shall  be  used  to  offset the filing fees and
 9    costs of the lawsuit as provided in that  Article  until  all
10    fees  and  costs  are  paid in full. All other wages shall be
11    deposited  in  the  individual's  account  under  rules   and
12    regulations  of  the Department.  The Department shall notify
13    the Attorney General of any compensation  applied  towards  a
14    satisfaction,   in   whole   or  in  part,  of  the  person's
15    incarceration costs.
16    (Source: P.A. 88-669, eff. 11-29-94; 88-679, eff. 7-1-95.)
17        Section 25.  The Code of Civil Procedure is  amended,  if
18    and only if House Bill 2138 does not become law by August 31,
19    1997   in   the   form  in  which  it  passed  the  House  of
20    Representatives, by adding Article XXII as follows:
21        (735 ILCS 5/Art. XXII heading new)
22         ARTICLE XXII. FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS FILED BY PRISONERS
23        (735 ILCS 5/22-105 new)
24        Sec. 22-105.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
25        (a)  If a prisoner confined in an Illinois Department  of
26    Corrections  facility  files  a  pleading,  motion,  or other
27    filing that purports to be a legal document in a case seeking
28    post-conviction relief under  Article  122  of  the  Code  of
29    Criminal  Procedure  of  1963,  habeas  corpus  relief  under
30    Article  X  of  this  Code, a claim under the Court of Claims
31    Act,  or  other  action  against  the  State,  the   Illinois
SB381 Enrolled             -19-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Department  of  Corrections, or the Prisoner Review Board, or
 2    against any of their officers  or  employees  and  the  Court
 3    makes  a specific finding that the pleading, motion, or other
 4    paper filed by the prisoner is  frivolous,  the  prisoner  is
 5    responsible  for  the  full payment of filing fees and actual
 6    court costs.
 7        On filing the action or proceeding the court shall assess
 8    and, when funds exist, collect as a partial  payment  of  any
 9    court  costs  required  by law a first time payment of 50% of
10    the average monthly balance  of  the  prisoner's  trust  fund
11    account  for  the  past  6  months.   Thereafter  50%  of all
12    deposits  into  the  prisoner's  individual   account   under
13    Sections  3-4-3 and 3-12-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections
14    administered by the Illinois Department of Corrections  shall
15    be  withheld  until  the  actual court costs are collected in
16    full.  The Department of Corrections shall forward any moneys
17    withheld to the court of  jurisdiction.   If  a  prisoner  is
18    released  before the full costs are collected, the Department
19    of Corrections shall forward the amount  of  costs  collected
20    through  the  date  of release.  The court of jurisdiction is
21    responsible for sending the Department of Corrections a  copy
22    of  the  order mandating the amount of court fees to be paid.
23    Nothing in this Section prohibits an applicant from filing an
24    action or proceeding if the applicant is unable  to  pay  the
25    court costs.
26        (b)  In  this Section, "frivolous" means that a pleading,
27    motion, or other filing which purports to be a legal document
28    filed by a prisoner in his or her lawsuit meets any or all of
29    the following criteria:
30             (1)  it lacks an arguable basis either in law or  in
31        fact;
32             (2)  it is being presented for any improper purpose,
33        such  as  to  harass  or  to  cause  unnecessary delay or
34        needless increase in the cost of litigation;
SB381 Enrolled             -20-                LRB9001056RCks
 1             (3)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
 2        contentions therein are not warranted by existing law  or
 3        by   a   nonfrivolous   argument   for   the   extension,
 4        modification,   or   reversal  of  existing  law  or  the
 5        establishment of new law;
 6             (4)  the allegations and other  factual  contentions
 7        do  not  have  evidentiary support or, if specifically so
 8        identified, are not likely to  have  evidentiary  support
 9        after  a reasonable opportunity for further investigation
10        or discovery; or
11             (5)  the denials  of  factual  contentions  are  not
12        warranted   on   the  evidence,  or  if  specifically  so
13        identified,  are  not  reasonably  based  on  a  lack  of
14        information or belief.
15        Section 30.  The Code of Civil Procedure is  amended,  if
16    and only if House Bill 2138 becomes law by August 31, 1997 in
17    the  form in which it passed the House of Representatives, by
18    adding Article XXII as follows:
19        (735 ILCS 5/Art. XXII heading new)
20         ARTICLE XXII. FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS FILED BY PRISONERS
21        (735 ILCS 5/22-105 new)
22        Sec. 22-105.  Frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners.
23        (a)  If a prisoner confined in an Illinois Department  of
24    Corrections  facility  files  a  pleading,  motion,  or other
25    filing which purports to  be  a  legal  document  in  a  case
26    seeking  post-conviction relief under Article 122 of the Code
27    of Criminal Procedure of 1963, pursuant to Section  116-3  of
28    the  Code  of  Criminal Procedure of 1963, in a habeas corpus
29    action under Article X of this Code, in  a  claim  under  the
30    Court  of Claims Act, or in another action against the State,
31    the Illinois  Department  of  Corrections,  or  the  Prisoner
SB381 Enrolled             -21-                LRB9001056RCks
 1    Review  Board,  or against any of their officers or employees
 2    and the Court makes a specific  finding  that  the  pleading,
 3    motion, or other filing which purports to be a legal document
 4    filed   by   the  prisoner  is  frivolous,  the  prisoner  is
 5    responsible for the full payment of filing  fees  and  actual
 6    court costs.
 7        On filing the action or proceeding the court shall assess
 8    and,  when  funds  exist, collect as a partial payment of any
 9    court costs required by law a first time payment  of  50%  of
10    the  average  monthly  balance  of  the prisoner's trust fund
11    account for  the  past  6  months.   Thereafter  50%  of  all
12    deposits   into   the  prisoner's  individual  account  under
13    Sections 3-4-3 and 3-12-5 of the Unified Code of  Corrections
14    administered  by the Illinois Department of Corrections shall
15    be withheld until the actual court  costs  are  collected  in
16    full.  The Department of Corrections shall forward any moneys
17    withheld  to  the  court  of  jurisdiction.  If a prisoner is
18    released before the full costs are collected, the  Department
19    of  Corrections  shall  forward the amount of costs collected
20    through the date of release.  The court  of  jurisdiction  is
21    responsible  for sending the Department of Corrections a copy
22    of the order mandating the amount of court fees to  be  paid.
23    Nothing in this Section prohibits an applicant from filing an
24    action  or  proceeding  if the applicant is unable to pay the
25    court costs.
26        (b)  In this Section, "frivolous" means that a  pleading,
27    motion, or other filing which purports to be a legal document
28    filed by a prisoner in his or her lawsuit meets any or all of
29    the following criteria:
30             (1)  it  lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
31        fact;
32             (2)  it is being presented for any improper purpose,
33        such as to  harass  or  to  cause  unnecessary  delay  or
34        needless increase in the cost of litigation;
SB381 Enrolled             -22-                LRB9001056RCks
 1             (3)  the   claims,   defenses,   and   other   legal
 2        contentions  therein are not warranted by existing law or
 3        by   a   nonfrivolous   argument   for   the   extension,
 4        modification,  or  reversal  of  existing  law   or   the
 5        establishment of new law;
 6             (4)  the  allegations  and other factual contentions
 7        do not have evidentiary support or,  if  specifically  so
 8        identified,  are  not  likely to have evidentiary support
 9        after a reasonable opportunity for further  investigation
10        or discovery; or
11             (5)  the  denials  of  factual  contentions  are not
12        warranted  on  the  evidence,  or  if   specifically   so
13        identified,  are  not  reasonably  based  on  a  lack  of
14        information or belief.
15        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
16    becoming law.

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