104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3818 Introduced , by Rep. Michael Crawford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11735 ILCS 5/2-702 Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons, in county jails, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender if the person was unjustly convicted and received a pardon from the Governor on the ground of innocence of the crime for which the person was convicted or the person received a certificate of innocence. Removes language providing the amount of the award the court may give for a successful claim. Provides instead that the court shall make an award of $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully incarcerated and $25,000 for each year during which the person was wrongfully on parole, wrongfully on intensive supervised probation, or wrongfully required to register as a sex offender. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Allows any person who is convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and then serves any part of a sentence of incarceration in a State prison, in a county jail, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender (rather than convicted and subsequently imprisoned) for one or more felonies by the State that the person did not commit may file a petition for certificate of innocence. Requires the court to make an award of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses after awarding a certificate of innocence. Provides that any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. Effective immediately. LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3818 Introduced , by Rep. Michael Crawford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11735 ILCS 5/2-702 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons, in county jails, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender if the person was unjustly convicted and received a pardon from the Governor on the ground of innocence of the crime for which the person was convicted or the person received a certificate of innocence. Removes language providing the amount of the award the court may give for a successful claim. Provides instead that the court shall make an award of $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully incarcerated and $25,000 for each year during which the person was wrongfully on parole, wrongfully on intensive supervised probation, or wrongfully required to register as a sex offender. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Allows any person who is convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and then serves any part of a sentence of incarceration in a State prison, in a county jail, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender (rather than convicted and subsequently imprisoned) for one or more felonies by the State that the person did not commit may file a petition for certificate of innocence. Requires the court to make an award of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses after awarding a certificate of innocence. Provides that any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. Effective immediately. LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3818 Introduced , by Rep. Michael Crawford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11735 ILCS 5/2-702 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons, in county jails, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender if the person was unjustly convicted and received a pardon from the Governor on the ground of innocence of the crime for which the person was convicted or the person received a certificate of innocence. Removes language providing the amount of the award the court may give for a successful claim. Provides instead that the court shall make an award of $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully incarcerated and $25,000 for each year during which the person was wrongfully on parole, wrongfully on intensive supervised probation, or wrongfully required to register as a sex offender. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Allows any person who is convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and then serves any part of a sentence of incarceration in a State prison, in a county jail, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender (rather than convicted and subsequently imprisoned) for one or more felonies by the State that the person did not commit may file a petition for certificate of innocence. Requires the court to make an award of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses after awarding a certificate of innocence. Provides that any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. Effective immediately. LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b A BILL FOR HB3818LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 AN ACT concerning civil law. 2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, 3 represented in the General Assembly: 4 Section 5. The Court of Claims Act is amended by changing 5 Sections 8 and 11 as follows: 6 (705 ILCS 505/8) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.8) 7 Sec. 8. Court of Claims jurisdiction; deliberation 8 periods. The court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to hear 9 and determine the following matters: 10 (a) All claims against the State founded upon any law 11 of the State of Illinois or upon any regulation adopted 12 thereunder by an executive or administrative officer or 13 agency; provided, however, the court shall not have 14 jurisdiction (i) to hear or determine claims arising under 15 the Workers' Compensation Act or the Workers' Occupational 16 Diseases Act, or claims for expenses in civil litigation, 17 or (ii) to review administrative decisions for which a 18 statute provides that review shall be in the circuit or 19 appellate court. 20 (b) All claims against the State founded upon any 21 contract entered into with the State of Illinois. 22 (c) All claims against the State for time unjustly 23 served in prisons of this State, in a county jail, on 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB3818 Introduced , by Rep. Michael Crawford SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11735 ILCS 5/2-702 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that the Court of Claims has exclusive jurisdiction to hear all claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons, in county jails, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender if the person was unjustly convicted and received a pardon from the Governor on the ground of innocence of the crime for which the person was convicted or the person received a certificate of innocence. Removes language providing the amount of the award the court may give for a successful claim. Provides instead that the court shall make an award of $50,000 per year during which the person was wrongfully incarcerated and $25,000 for each year during which the person was wrongfully on parole, wrongfully on intensive supervised probation, or wrongfully required to register as a sex offender. Provides that the changes made by the amendatory Act apply to claims pending or filed on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act. Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Allows any person who is convicted or adjudicated a delinquent and then serves any part of a sentence of incarceration in a State prison, in a county jail, on parole, on intensive supervised probation, or registered as a sex offender (rather than convicted and subsequently imprisoned) for one or more felonies by the State that the person did not commit may file a petition for certificate of innocence. Requires the court to make an award of reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses after awarding a certificate of innocence. Provides that any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred before the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 4 years after the effective date of the amendatory Act, and any person seeking a certificate of innocence based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of the amendatory Act shall file a petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. Effective immediately. LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b A BILL FOR 705 ILCS 505/8 from Ch. 37, par. 439.8 705 ILCS 505/11 from Ch. 37, par. 439.11 735 ILCS 5/2-702 LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 2 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 2 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 2 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 parole, on intensive supervision probation, or on the sex 2 offender registry, when the unjustly convicted person 3 imprisoned received a pardon from the Governor stating 4 that such pardon is issued on the ground of innocence of 5 the crime for which he or she was convicted imprisoned or 6 he or she received a certificate of innocence from the 7 Circuit Court as provided in Section 2-702 of the Code of 8 Civil Procedure. The court shall make an award of $50,000 9 per year, and prorated for any partial year, during which 10 the person was wrongfully incarcerated in a State 11 correctional institution or in a county jail, including 12 the time the person was incarcerated awaiting trial, and 13 $25,000 for each year, and prorated for any partial year, 14 during which the person was wrongfully on parole, 15 wrongfully on intensive supervision probation, or was 16 wrongfully required to register as a sex offender. In 17 addition, the Circuit Court shall make an award of 18 reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and expenses in the 19 amount determined by the Circuit Court after awarding a 20 certificate of innocence under Section 2-702 of the Code 21 of Civil Procedure. The ; provided, the amount of the 22 award is at the discretion of the court; and provided, the 23 court shall make no award in excess of the following 24 amounts: for imprisonment of 5 years or less, not more 25 than $85,350; for imprisonment of 14 years or less but 26 over 5 years, not more than $170,000; for imprisonment of HB3818 - 2 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 3 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 3 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 3 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 over 14 years, not more than $199,150; and provided 2 further, the court shall fix attorney's fees not to exceed 3 25% of the award granted. On or after the effective date of 4 this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly, the 5 court shall annually adjust the maximum awards authorized 6 by this subsection (c) to reflect the increase, if any, in 7 the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers for the 8 previous calendar year, as determined by the United States 9 Department of Labor, except that no annual increment may 10 exceed 5%. For the annual adjustments, if the Consumer 11 Price Index decreases during a calendar year, there shall 12 be no adjustment for that calendar year. The transmission 13 by the Prisoner Review Board or the clerk of the circuit 14 court of the information described in Section 11(b) to the 15 clerk of the Court of Claims is conclusive evidence of the 16 validity of the claim. The changes made by this amendatory 17 Act of the 95th General Assembly apply to all claims 18 pending on or filed on or after the effective date. The 19 changes made by this amendatory Act of the 104th General 20 Assembly apply to all claims pending or filed on or after 21 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th 22 General Assembly. 23 (d) All claims against the State for damages in cases 24 sounding in tort, if a like cause of action would lie 25 against a private person or corporation in a civil suit, 26 and all like claims sounding in tort against the Medical HB3818 - 3 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 4 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 4 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 4 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 Center Commission, the Board of Trustees of the University 2 of Illinois, the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois 3 University, the Board of Trustees of Chicago State 4 University, the Board of Trustees of Eastern Illinois 5 University, the Board of Trustees of Governors State 6 University, the Board of Trustees of Illinois State 7 University, the Board of Trustees of Northeastern Illinois 8 University, the Board of Trustees of Northern Illinois 9 University, the Board of Trustees of Western Illinois 10 University, or the Board of Trustees of the Illinois 11 Mathematics and Science Academy; provided, that an award 12 for damages in a case sounding in tort, other than certain 13 cases involving the operation of a State vehicle described 14 in this paragraph, shall not exceed the sum of $2,000,000 15 to or for the benefit of any claimant. The $2,000,000 16 limit prescribed by this Section does not apply to an 17 award of damages in any case sounding in tort arising out 18 of the operation by a State employee of a vehicle owned, 19 leased or controlled by the State. The defense that the 20 State or the Medical Center Commission or the Board of 21 Trustees of the University of Illinois, the Board of 22 Trustees of Southern Illinois University, the Board of 23 Trustees of Chicago State University, the Board of 24 Trustees of Eastern Illinois University, the Board of 25 Trustees of Governors State University, the Board of 26 Trustees of Illinois State University, the Board of HB3818 - 4 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 5 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 5 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 5 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 Trustees of Northeastern Illinois University, the Board of 2 Trustees of Northern Illinois University, the Board of 3 Trustees of Western Illinois University, or the Board of 4 Trustees of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy 5 is not liable for the negligence of its officers, agents, 6 and employees in the course of their employment is not 7 applicable to the hearing and determination of such 8 claims. The changes to this Section made by this 9 amendatory Act of the 100th General Assembly apply only to 10 claims filed on or after July 1, 2015. 11 The court shall annually adjust the maximum awards 12 authorized by this subsection to reflect the increase, if 13 any, in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers 14 for the previous calendar year, as determined by the 15 United States Department of Labor. The Comptroller shall 16 make the new amount resulting from each annual adjustment 17 available to the public via the Comptroller's official 18 website by January 31 of every year. 19 (e) All claims for recoupment made by the State of 20 Illinois against any claimant. 21 (f) All claims pursuant to the Line of Duty 22 Compensation Act. A claim under that Act must be heard and 23 determined within one year after the application for that 24 claim is filed with the Court as provided in that Act. 25 (g) All claims filed pursuant to the Crime Victims 26 Compensation Act. HB3818 - 5 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 6 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 6 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 6 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 (h) All claims pursuant to the Illinois National 2 Guardsman's Compensation Act. A claim under that Act must 3 be heard and determined within one year after the 4 application for that claim is filed with the Court as 5 provided in that Act. 6 (i) All claims authorized by subsection (a) of Section 7 10-55 of the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act for the 8 expenses incurred by a party in a contested case on the 9 administrative level. 10 (Source: P.A. 100-1124, eff. 11-27-18.) 11 (705 ILCS 505/11) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.11) 12 Sec. 11. Filing claims. 13 (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this 14 Section and subsection (4) of Section 24, the claimant shall 15 in all cases set forth fully in his petition the claim, the 16 action thereon, if any, on behalf of the State, what persons 17 are owners thereof or interested therein, when and upon what 18 consideration such persons became so interested; that no 19 assignment or transfer of the claim or any part thereof or 20 interest therein has been made, except as stated in the 21 petition; that the claimant is justly entitled to the amount 22 therein claimed from the State of Illinois, after allowing all 23 just credits; and that claimant believes the facts stated in 24 the petition to be true. The petition shall be verified, as to 25 statements of facts, by the affidavit of the claimant, his HB3818 - 6 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 7 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 7 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 7 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 agent, or attorney. 2 (b) Whenever a person has served a term of imprisonment 3 and has received a pardon by the Governor stating that such 4 pardon was issued on the ground of innocence of the crime for 5 which he or she was convicted imprisoned, the Prisoner Review 6 Board shall transmit this information to the clerk of the 7 Court of Claims, together with the claimant's current address. 8 Whenever a person has served a term of imprisonment and has 9 received a certificate of innocence from the Circuit Court as 10 provided in Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the 11 clerk of the issuing Circuit Court shall transmit this 12 information to the clerk of the Court of Claims, together with 13 the claimant's current address. The clerk of the Court of 14 Claims shall immediately docket the case for consideration by 15 the Court of Claims, and shall provide notice to the claimant 16 of such docketing together with all hearing dates and 17 applicable deadlines. The Court of Claims shall hear the case 18 and render a decision within 90 days after its docketing. 19 (Source: P.A. 95-970, eff. 9-22-08; 96-328, eff. 8-11-09.) 20 Section 10. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by 21 changing Section 2-702 as follows: 22 (735 ILCS 5/2-702) 23 Sec. 2-702. Petition for a certificate of innocence that 24 the petitioner was innocent of all offenses for which he or she HB3818 - 7 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 8 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 8 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 8 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 was incarcerated. 2 (a) The General Assembly finds and declares that innocent 3 persons who have been wrongly convicted of crimes in Illinois 4 and subsequently imprisoned have been frustrated in seeking 5 legal redress due to a variety of substantive and technical 6 obstacles in the law and that such persons should have an 7 available avenue to obtain a finding of innocence so that they 8 may obtain relief through a petition in the Court of Claims. 9 The General Assembly further finds misleading the current 10 legal nomenclature which compels an innocent person to seek a 11 pardon for being wrongfully incarcerated. It is the intent of 12 the General Assembly that the court, in exercising its 13 discretion as permitted by law regarding the weight and 14 admissibility of evidence submitted pursuant to this Section, 15 shall, in the interest of justice, give due consideration to 16 difficulties of proof caused by the passage of time, the death 17 or unavailability of witnesses, the destruction of evidence or 18 other factors not caused by such persons or those acting on 19 their behalf. 20 (b) Any person who is convicted or adjudicated a 21 delinquent and subsequently serves any part of a sentence of 22 incarceration in a State correctional institution or in a 23 county jail, of parole, of intensive supervision probation, or 24 of registration as a sex offender imprisoned for one or more 25 felonies by the State of Illinois which he or she did not 26 commit may, under the conditions hereinafter provided, file a HB3818 - 8 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 9 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 9 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 9 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 petition for certificate of innocence in the circuit court of 2 the county in which the person was convicted or adjudicated a 3 delinquent. The petition shall request a certificate of 4 innocence finding that the petitioner was innocent of one or 5 more all offenses for which he or she was convicted 6 incarcerated. 7 (c) In order to present the claim for certificate of 8 innocence of an unjust conviction or juvenile delinquency 9 adjudication and imprisonment, the petitioner must attach to 10 his or her petition documentation demonstrating that: 11 (1) he or she has been convicted or adjudicated a 12 delinquent of one or more felonies by the State of 13 Illinois and subsequently sentenced to a term of 14 imprisonment, and has served all or any part of the 15 sentence; and 16 (2) his or her judgment of conviction or delinquency 17 adjudication was reversed or vacated, and the indictment, 18 or information, or petition dismissed or, if a new trial 19 was ordered, either he or she was found not guilty at the 20 new trial or he or she was not retried and the indictment, 21 or information, or petition dismissed; or the statute, or 22 application thereof, on which the indictment or 23 information was based violated the Constitution of the 24 United States or the State of Illinois; and 25 (3) his or her claim is not time barred by the 26 provisions of subsection (i) of this Section. HB3818 - 9 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 10 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 10 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 10 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 (d) The petition shall state facts in sufficient detail to 2 permit the court to find that the petitioner is likely to 3 succeed at trial in proving that the petitioner is innocent of 4 the alleged offenses for which he or she was convicted or 5 adjudicated a delinquent charged in the indictment or 6 information or his or her acts or omissions charged in the 7 indictment or information did not constitute a felony or 8 misdemeanor against the State of Illinois, and the petitioner 9 did not by his or her own conduct voluntarily cause or bring 10 about his or her conviction or juvenile delinquency 11 adjudication. Neither a guilty plea nor a confession 12 constitutes conduct causing or bringing about one's conviction 13 or delinquency adjudication. The petition shall be verified by 14 the petitioner. 15 (e) A copy of the petition shall be served on the Attorney 16 General and the State's Attorney of the county where the 17 conviction or juvenile delinquency adjudication was had. The 18 Attorney General and the State's Attorney of the county where 19 the conviction or juvenile delinquency adjudication was had 20 shall have the right to intervene as parties. 21 (f) In any hearing seeking a certificate of innocence, the 22 court may take judicial notice of prior sworn testimony or 23 evidence admitted in the criminal or juvenile delinquency 24 proceedings related to the convictions or adjudications which 25 resulted in the alleged wrongful incarceration, if the 26 petitioner was either represented by counsel at such prior HB3818 - 10 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 11 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 11 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 11 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 proceedings or the right to counsel was knowingly waived. 2 (g) In order to obtain a certificate of innocence the 3 petitioner must prove by a preponderance of evidence that: 4 (1) the petitioner was convicted or adjudicated a 5 delinquent of one or more felonies by the State of 6 Illinois and subsequently sentenced to a term of 7 imprisonment, and has served all or any part of the 8 sentence; 9 (2)(A) the judgment of conviction or adjudication was 10 reversed or vacated, and the indictment, or information, 11 or petition dismissed or, if a new trial was ordered, 12 either the petitioner was found not guilty at the new 13 trial or the petitioner was not retried and the 14 indictment, or information, or petition dismissed; or (B) 15 the statute, or application thereof, on which the 16 indictment, or information, or petition was based violated 17 the Constitution of the United States or the State of 18 Illinois; 19 (3) the petitioner is innocent of one or more of the 20 offenses for which he or she was convicted or adjudicated 21 a delinquent charged in the indictment or information or 22 his or her acts or omissions charged in the indictment or 23 information did not constitute a felony or misdemeanor 24 against the State; and 25 (4) the petitioner did not by his or her own conduct 26 voluntarily cause or bring about his or her conviction or HB3818 - 11 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 12 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 12 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 12 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 juvenile delinquency adjudication. Neither a guilty plea 2 nor a confession constitutes conduct causing or bringing 3 about one's conviction or delinquency adjudication. 4 (h) If the court finds that the petitioner is entitled to a 5 judgment, it shall enter a certificate of innocence finding 6 that the petitioner was innocent of one or more all offenses 7 for which he or she was convicted or adjudicated a delinquent. 8 The court shall also make a determination, subject to proof by 9 the claimant, of the reasonable attorney's fees, costs, and 10 expenses incurred by the claimant in connection with obtaining 11 the certificate of innocence under this Section incarcerated. 12 Upon entry of the certificate of innocence or pardon from the 13 Governor stating that such pardon was issued on the ground of 14 innocence of the crime for which he or she was convicted or 15 adjudicated a delinquent imprisoned, (1) the clerk of the 16 court shall transmit a copy of the certificate of innocence to 17 the clerk of the Court of Claims, together with the claimant's 18 current address; and (2) the court shall enter an order 19 expunging the record of arrest from the official records of 20 the arresting authority and order that the records of the 21 clerk of the circuit court and the Illinois State Police be 22 sealed until further order of the court upon good cause shown 23 or as otherwise provided herein, and the name of the defendant 24 or respondent in a juvenile delinquency proceeding obliterated 25 from the official index requested to be kept by the circuit 26 court clerk under Section 16 of the Clerks of Courts Act in HB3818 - 12 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 13 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 13 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 13 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 connection with the arrest and conviction or delinquency 2 adjudication for the offense but the order shall not affect 3 any index issued by the circuit court clerk before the entry of 4 the order. The court shall enter the expungement order 5 regardless of whether the petitioner has prior criminal 6 convictions or delinquency adjudications. 7 All records sealed by the Illinois State Police may be 8 disseminated by the Department only as required by law or to 9 the arresting authority, the State's Attorney, the court upon 10 a later arrest for the same or similar offense, or for the 11 purpose of sentencing for any subsequent felony. Upon 12 conviction for any subsequent offense, the Department of 13 Corrections shall have access to all sealed records of the 14 Department pertaining to that individual. 15 Upon entry of the order of expungement, the clerk of the 16 circuit court shall promptly mail a copy of the order to the 17 person whose records were expunged and sealed. The clerk shall 18 post in the common areas of the courthouse a notice containing 19 information about grants for exonerated persons and their 20 dependents under Section 62 of the Higher Education Student 21 Assistance Act, including the Internet address of the Illinois 22 Student Assistance Commission. The Illinois Student Assistance 23 Commission shall develop a uniform statewide notice and 24 provide the format of the notice to each clerk. 25 (i) Any person seeking a certificate of innocence under 26 this Section based on the dismissal of an indictment or HB3818 - 13 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 14 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 14 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 14 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 information or acquittal that occurred before the effective 2 date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall 3 file his or her petition within 2 years after the effective 4 date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly. Any 5 person seeking a certificate of innocence under this Section 6 based on the dismissal of an indictment or information or 7 acquittal that occurred on or after the effective date of this 8 amendatory Act of the 95th General Assembly shall file his or 9 her petition within 2 years after the dismissal or acquittal. 10 Any person seeking a certificate of innocence under this 11 Section based on the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency 12 petition or an acquittal on such petition that occurred before 13 the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General 14 Assembly, including a petitioner whose petition was denied 15 solely on the basis that this Section did not formerly apply to 16 juvenile delinquency adjudications, shall file his or her 17 petition within 4 years after the effective date of this 18 amendatory Act of the 104th General Assembly. Any person 19 seeking a certificate of innocence under this Section based on 20 the dismissal of a juvenile delinquency petition or an 21 acquittal on such petition that occurred on or after the 22 effective date of this amendatory Act of the 104th General 23 Assembly shall file his or her petition within 2 years after 24 the dismissal or acquittal. 25 (j) The decision to grant or deny a certificate of 26 innocence shall be binding only with respect to claims filed HB3818 - 14 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818- 15 -LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 15 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b HB3818 - 15 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b 1 in the Court of Claims and shall not have a res judicata effect 2 on any other proceedings. 3 (Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21; 103-1046, eff. 1-1-25.) HB3818 - 15 - LRB104 08464 JRC 18516 b