104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1177 Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1177 Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1177 Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b A BILL FOR SB1177LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 AN ACT concerning government. 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 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 21, and 22 as follows: 6 (705 ILCS 505/2) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.2) 7 Sec. 2. Terms and Appointment of Successor Judges. Judges 8 appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the 9 Senate under Section 1 of this Act shall hold office for a term 10 of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and 11 qualified. Upon the expiration of the terms of office of the 12 incumbent judges the Governor shall appoint their successors 13 by and with the consent of the Senate for terms of 2, 4 and 6 14 years commencing on the third Monday in January of the year 15 1953. Of the 2 new members first appointed after the effective 16 date of this amendatory Act of 1983, one shall be appointed to 17 an initial term ending the third Monday in January, 1986, and 18 one shall be appointed to an initial term ending on the third 19 Monday in January, 1988. Of the 2 members first appointed 20 after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1986, one 21 shall be appointed to an initial term ending the third Monday 22 in January, 1989, and one shall be appointed to an initial term 23 ending on the third Monday in January, 1991. After the 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 SB1177 Introduced 1/24/2025, by Sen. Michael W. Halpin SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 Amends Court of Claims Act. Provides that judges appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate under the Act shall hold office for a term of 6 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. Provides that each judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the Compensation Review Board. Authorizes the court to hold sessions and take evidence remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the court. Authorizes the court to adopt administrative rules to provide for remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, participation in any capacity before the court, taking of evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, or payment of any fees to the court. Authorizes the court to adopt rules determining the form and manner of all filing fees and other charges due the court. Provides that all claims arising under the Act must filed within 5 years (instead of one year) of the crime on which a claim is based under the Crime Victims Compensation Act. LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b A BILL FOR 705 ILCS 505/2 from Ch. 37, par. 439.2 705 ILCS 505/4 from Ch. 37, par. 439.4 705 ILCS 505/6 from Ch. 37, par. 439.6 705 ILCS 505/9 from Ch. 37, par. 439.9 705 ILCS 505/13 from Ch. 37, par. 439.13 705 ILCS 505/21 from Ch. 37, par. 439.21 705 ILCS 505/22 from Ch. 37, par. 439.22 LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 2 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 2 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 2 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 expiration of the terms of the judges first appointed, each of 2 their respective successors shall hold office for a term of 6 3 years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. 4 (Source: P.A. 84-1240.) 5 (705 ILCS 505/4) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.4) 6 Sec. 4. Each judge shall receive an annual salary of: Each 7 judge shall receive an annual salary as set by the 8 Compensation Review Board. $20,900 from the third Monday in 9 January, 1979 to the third Monday in January, 1980; $22,100 10 from the third Monday in January, 1980 to the third Monday in 11 January, 1981; $23,400 from the third Monday in January, 1981 12 to the third Monday in January, 1982, and $25,000 thereafter, 13 or as set by the Compensation Review Board, whichever is 14 greater, payable in equal monthly installments. 15 (Source: P.A. 83-1177.) 16 (705 ILCS 505/6) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.6) 17 Sec. 6. The court shall hold sessions at such places or 18 remotely as it deems necessary to expedite the business of the 19 court. 20 (Source: P.A. 90-492, eff. 8-17-97.) 21 (705 ILCS 505/9) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.9) 22 Sec. 9. The court may: A. Establish rules for its 23 government and for the regulation of practice therein; appoint SB1177 - 2 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 3 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 3 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 3 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 commissioners to assist the court in such manner as it directs 2 and discharge them at will; and exercise such powers as are 3 necessary to carry into effect the powers granted in this 4 Section. Any Commissioner appointed shall be an attorney 5 licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois. The rules 6 established hereunder shall not be waived, and any extension 7 of time authorized by such rules shall only be allowed on 8 motion duly filed within the time limitation for which the 9 extension is requested. 10 B. Issue subpoenas through the Chief Justice or one of its 11 judges or commissioners to require the attendance of witnesses 12 for the purpose of testifying before it, or before any judge of 13 the court, or before any notary public, or any of its 14 commissioners, and to require the production of any books, 15 records, papers or documents that may be material or relevant 16 as evidence in any matter pending before it. In case any person 17 refuses to comply with any subpoena issued in the name of the 18 chief justice, or one of the judges or commissioners, attested 19 by the clerk, with the seal of the court attached, and served 20 upon the person named therein as a summons in a civil action is 21 served, the circuit court of the proper county, on application 22 of the party at whose instance the subpoena was issued, shall 23 compel obedience by attachment proceedings, as for contempt, 24 as in a case of a disobedience of the requirements of a 25 subpoena from such court on a refusal to testify therein. 26 C. The court may adopt administrative rules to provide for SB1177 - 3 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 4 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 4 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 4 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 remote or electronic filing of a claim or other motion, 2 participation in any capacity before the court, taking of 3 evidence or testimony, conducting any business of the court, 4 or payment of any fees to the court. 5 (Source: P.A. 83-865.) 6 (705 ILCS 505/13) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.13) 7 Sec. 13. Any judge or commissioner of the court may sit at 8 any place within the State or may remotely to take evidence in 9 or conduct any case in the court. 10 (Source: Laws 1945, p. 660.) 11 (705 ILCS 505/21) (from Ch. 37, par. 439.21) 12 Sec. 21. The court is authorized to impose, by uniform 13 rules, a fee of $15 for the filing of a petition in any case in 14 which the award sought is more than $50 and less than $1,000 15 and $35 in any case in which the award sought is $1,000 or 16 more; and to charge and collect for copies of opinions or other 17 documents filed in the Court of Claims such fees as may be 18 prescribed by the rules of the Court. All fees and charges so 19 collected shall be forthwith paid into the State Treasury. The 20 Court may determine the form and manner of all filing fees and 21 other charges due the court by administrative rule. 22 A petitioner who is a prisoner in an Illinois Department 23 of Corrections facility who files a pleading, motion, or other 24 filing that purports to be a legal document against the State, SB1177 - 4 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 5 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 5 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 5 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 the Illinois Department of Corrections, the Prisoner Review 2 Board, or any of their officers or employees in which the court 3 makes a specific finding that it is frivolous shall pay all 4 filing fees and court costs in the manner provided in Article 5 XXII of the Code of Civil Procedure. 6 In claims based upon lapsed appropriations or lost warrant 7 or in claims filed under the Line of Duty Compensation Act, the 8 Illinois National Guardsman's Compensation Act, or the Crime 9 Victims Compensation Act or in claims filed by medical vendors 10 for medical services rendered by the claimant to persons 11 eligible for Medical Assistance under programs administered by 12 the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, no filing 13 fee shall be required. 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 17 otherwise sooner barred by law shall be forever barred from 18 prosecution therein unless it is filed with the clerk of the 19 court within the time set forth as follows: 20 (a) All claims arising out of a contract must be filed 21 within 5 years after it first accrues, saving to minors, 22 and persons under legal disability at the time the claim 23 accrues, in which cases the claim must be filed within 5 24 years from the time the disability ceases. 25 (b) All claims cognizable against the State by vendors SB1177 - 5 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 6 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 6 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 6 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b 1 of goods or services under the Illinois Public Aid Code 2 must be filed within one year after the accrual of the 3 cause of action, as provided in Section 11-13 of that 4 Code. 5 (c) All claims arising under paragraph (c) of Section 6 8 of this Act must be automatically heard by the court 7 within 120 days after the person asserting such claim is 8 either issued a certificate of innocence from the circuit 9 court as provided in Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil 10 Procedure, or is granted a pardon by the Governor, 11 whichever occurs later, without the person asserting the 12 claim being required to file a petition under Section 11 13 of this Act, except as otherwise provided by the Crime 14 Victims Compensation Act. Any claims filed by the claimant 15 under paragraph (c) of Section 8 of this Act must be filed 16 within 2 years after the person asserting such claim is 17 either issued a certificate of innocence as provided in 18 Section 2-702 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or is 19 granted a pardon by the Governor, whichever occurs later. 20 (d) All claims arising under paragraph (f) of Section 21 8 of this Act must be filed within the time set forth in 22 Section 3 of the Line of Duty Compensation Act. 23 (e) All claims arising under paragraph (h) of Section 24 8 of this Act must be filed within one year of the date of 25 the death of the guardsman or militiaman as provided in 26 Section 3 of the Illinois National Guardsman's SB1177 - 6 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177- 7 -LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 7 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 7 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b SB1177 - 7 - LRB104 06299 JRC 16334 b