Bill Text: IL SB2145 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 relating to first degree murder. Adds and eliminates aggravating factors for which the death penalty may be imposed. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Eliminates a provision that abolishes the sentence of death. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys remaining in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund which is re-established as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a death sentence is an authorized disposition, the State Appellate Defender shall provide trial counsel with legal assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses, investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. Provides that the Office of State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve as trial counsel in capital cases. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-02-10 - Referred to Assignments [SB2145 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2145-Introduced.html


103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2145

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Andrew S. Chesney

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
5 ILCS 140/7.5
30 ILCS 105/5.990 new
720 ILCS 5/9-1 from Ch. 38, par. 9-1
725 ILCS 5/113-3 from Ch. 38, par. 113-3
725 ILCS 5/119-1
725 ILCS 105/10 from Ch. 38, par. 208-10

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012 relating to first degree murder. Adds and eliminates aggravating factors for which the death penalty may be imposed. Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Eliminates a provision that abolishes the sentence of death. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys remaining in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund on the effective date of the amendatory Act shall be transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund which is re-established as a special fund in the State treasury. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a death sentence is an authorized disposition, the State Appellate Defender shall provide trial counsel with legal assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses, investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. Provides that the Office of State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve as trial counsel in capital cases. Amends the State Finance Act to make conforming changes. Effective January 1, 2024.
LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b

A BILL FOR

SB2145LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 AN ACT concerning criminal law.
2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
4 Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023.
6 Section 5. Appointment of trial counsel in death penalty
7cases. If an indigent defendant is charged with an offense for
8which a sentence of death is authorized, and the State's
9Attorney has not, at or before arraignment, filed a
10certificate indicating he or she will not seek the death
11penalty or stated on the record in open court that the death
12penalty will not be sought, the trial court shall immediately
13appoint the Public Defender, or any other qualified attorney
14or attorneys as the Illinois Supreme Court shall by rule
15provide, to represent the defendant as trial counsel. If the
16Public Defender is appointed, he or she shall immediately
17assign the attorney or attorneys who are public defenders to
18represent the defendant. The counsel shall meet the
19qualifications as the Supreme Court shall by rule provide. At
20the request of court appointed counsel in a case in which the
21death penalty is sought, attorneys employed by the State
22Appellate Defender may enter an appearance for the limited
23purpose of assisting counsel appointed under this Section.

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1 Section 10. Court appointed trial counsel; compensation
2and expenses.
3 (a) This Section applies only to compensation and expenses
4of trial counsel appointed by the court as set forth in Section
55, other than public defenders, for the period after
6arraignment and so long as the State's Attorney has not, at any
7time, filed a certificate indicating he or she will not seek
8the death penalty or stated on the record in open court that
9the death penalty will not be sought.
10 (a-5) Litigation budget.
11 (1) In a case in which the State has filed a statement
12 of intent to seek the death penalty, the court shall
13 require appointed counsel, including those appointed in
14 Cook County, after counsel has had adequate time to review
15 the case and prior to engaging trial assistance, to submit
16 a proposed estimated litigation budget for court approval,
17 that will be subject to modification in light of facts and
18 developments that emerge as the case proceeds. Case
19 budgets should be submitted ex parte and filed and
20 maintained under seal in order to protect the defendant's
21 right to effective assistance of counsel, right not to
22 incriminate him or herself and all applicable privileges.
23 Case budgets shall be reviewed and approved by the judge
24 assigned to try the case. As provided under subsection (c)
25 of this Section, petitions for compensation shall be

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1 reviewed by both the trial judge and the presiding judge
2 or the presiding judge's designee.
3 (2) The litigation budget shall serve purposes
4 comparable to those of private retainer agreements by
5 confirming both the court's and the attorney's
6 expectations regarding fees and expenses. Consideration
7 should be given to employing an ex parte pretrial
8 conference in order to facilitate reaching agreement on a
9 litigation budget at the earliest opportunity.
10 (3) The budget shall be incorporated into a sealed
11 initial pretrial order that reflects the understandings of
12 the court and counsel regarding all matters affecting
13 counsel compensation and reimbursement and payments for
14 investigative, expert and other services, including, but
15 not limited to, the following matters:
16 (A) the hourly rate at which counsel will be
17 compensated;
18 (B) the hourly rate at which private
19 investigators, other than investigators employed by
20 the Office of the State Appellate Defender, will be
21 compensated; and
22 (C) the best preliminary estimate that can be made
23 of the cost of all services, including, but not
24 limited to, counsel, expert, and investigative
25 services, that are likely to be needed through the
26 guilt and penalty phases of the trial. The court shall

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1 have discretion to require that budgets be prepared
2 for shorter intervals of time.
3 (4) Appointed counsel may obtain, subject to later
4 review, investigative, expert or other services without
5 prior authorization if necessary for an adequate defense.
6 If the services are obtained, the presiding judge or the
7 presiding judge's designee shall consider in an ex parte
8 proceeding that timely procurement of necessary services
9 could not await prior authorization. If an ex parte
10 hearing is requested by defense counsel or deemed
11 necessary by the trial judge prior to modifying a budget,
12 the ex parte hearing shall be before the presiding judge
13 or the presiding judge's designee. The judge may then
14 authorize the services nunc pro tunc. If the presiding
15 judge or the presiding judge's designee finds that the
16 services were not reasonable, payment may be denied.
17 (5) An approved budget shall guide counsel's use of
18 time and resources by indicating the services for which
19 compensation is authorized. The case budget shall be
20 re-evaluated when justified by changed or unexpected
21 circumstances and shall be modified by the court when
22 reasonable and necessary for an adequate defense. If an ex
23 parte hearing is requested by defense counsel or deemed
24 necessary by the trial judge prior to modifying a budget,
25 the ex parte hearing shall be before the presiding judge
26 or the presiding judge's designee.

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1 (b) Appointed trial counsel shall be compensated upon
2presentment and certification by the circuit court of a claim
3for services detailing the date, activity, and time duration
4for which compensation is sought. Compensation for appointed
5trial counsel may be paid at a reasonable rate not to exceed
6$125 per hour. The court shall not authorize payment of bills
7that are not properly itemized. A request for payment shall be
8presented under seal and reviewed ex parte with a court
9reporter present. Every January 20, the statutory rate
10prescribed in this subsection shall be automatically increased
11or decreased, as applicable, by a percentage equal to the
12percentage change in the consumer price index-u during the
13preceding 12-month calendar year. "Consumer price index-u"
14means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of
15the United States Department of Labor that measures the
16average change in prices of goods and services purchased by
17all urban consumers, United States city average, all items,
181982-84=100. The new rate resulting from each annual
19adjustment shall be determined by the State Treasurer and made
20available to the chief judge of each judicial circuit.
21 (c) Appointed trial counsel may also petition the court
22for certification of expenses for reasonable and necessary
23capital litigation expenses including, but not limited to,
24investigatory and other assistance, expert, forensic, and
25other witnesses, and mitigation specialists. Each provider of
26proposed services must specify the best preliminary estimate

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1that can be made in light of information received in the case
2at that point, and the provider must sign this estimate under
3the provisions of Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil
4Procedure. A provider of proposed services must also specify:
5(1) his or her hourly rate; (2) the hourly rate of anyone else
6in his or her employ for whom reimbursement is sought; and (3)
7the hourly rate of any person or entity that may be
8subcontracted to perform these services. Counsel may not
9petition for certification of expenses that may have been
10provided or compensated by the State Appellate Defender under
11item (c)(5.1) of Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender
12Act. The petitions shall be filed under seal and considered ex
13parte but with a court reporter present for all ex parte
14conferences. If the requests are submitted after services have
15been rendered, the requests shall be supported by an invoice
16describing the services rendered, the dates the services were
17performed and the amount of time spent. These petitions shall
18be reviewed by both the trial judge and the presiding judge of
19the circuit court or the presiding judge's designee. The
20petitions and orders shall be kept under seal and shall be
21exempt from Freedom of Information requests until the
22conclusion of the trial, even if the prosecution chooses not
23to pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. If an
24ex parte hearing is requested by defense counsel or deemed
25necessary by the trial judge, the hearing shall be before the
26presiding judge or the presiding judge's designee.

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1 (d) Appointed trial counsel shall petition the court for
2certification of compensation and expenses under this Section
3periodically during the course of counsel's representation.
4The petitions shall be supported by itemized bills showing the
5date, the amount of time spent, the work done and the total
6being charged for each entry. The court shall not authorize
7payment of bills that are not properly itemized. The court
8must certify reasonable and necessary expenses of the
9petitioner for travel and per diem (lodging, meals, and
10incidental expenses). These expenses must be paid at the rate
11as promulgated by the United States General Services
12Administration for these expenses for the date and location in
13which they were incurred, unless extraordinary reasons are
14shown for the difference. The petitions shall be filed under
15seal and considered ex parte but with a court reporter present
16for all ex parte conferences. The petitions shall be reviewed
17by both the trial judge and the presiding judge of the circuit
18court or the presiding judge's designee. If an ex parte
19hearing is requested by defense counsel or deemed necessary by
20the trial judge, the ex parte hearing shall be before the
21presiding judge or the presiding judge's designee. If the
22court determines that the compensation and expenses should be
23paid from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund, the court shall
24certify, on a form created by the State Treasurer, that all or
25a designated portion of the amount requested is reasonable,
26necessary, and appropriate for payment from the Trust Fund.

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1The form must also be signed by lead trial counsel under the
2provisions of Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure
3verifying that the amount requested is reasonable, necessary,
4and appropriate. Bills submitted for payment by any individual
5or entity seeking payment from the Capital Litigation Trust
6Fund must also be accompanied by a form created by the State
7Treasurer and signed by the individual or responsible agent of
8the entity under the provisions of Section 1-109 of the Code of
9Civil Procedure that the amount requested is accurate and
10truthful and reflects time spent or expenses incurred.
11Certification of compensation and expenses by a court in any
12county other than Cook County shall be delivered by the court
13to the State Treasurer and must be paid by the State Treasurer
14directly from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund if there are
15sufficient moneys in the Trust Fund to pay the compensation
16and expenses. If the State Treasurer finds within 14 days of
17his or her receipt of a certification that the compensation
18and expenses to be paid are unreasonable, unnecessary, or
19inappropriate, he or she may return the certification to the
20court setting forth in detail the objection or objections with
21a request for the court to review the objection or objections
22before resubmitting the certification. The State Treasurer
23must send the claimant a copy of the objection or objections.
24The State Treasurer may only seek a review of a specific
25objection once. The claimant has 7 days from his or her receipt
26of the objections to file a response with the court. With or

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1without further hearing, the court must promptly rule on the
2objections. The petitions and orders shall be kept under seal
3and shall be exempt from Freedom of Information requests until
4the conclusion of the trial and appeal of the case, even if the
5prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior to
6trial or sentencing. Certification of compensation and
7expenses by a court in Cook County shall be delivered by the
8court to the county treasurer and paid by the county treasurer
9from moneys granted to the county from the Capital Litigation
10Trust Fund.
11 Section 15. Capital Litigation Trust Fund.
12 (a) The Capital Litigation Trust Fund is created as a
13special fund in the State Treasury. The Trust Fund shall be
14administered by the State Treasurer to provide moneys for the
15appropriations to be made, grants to be awarded, and
16compensation and expenses to be paid under this Act. All
17interest earned from the investment or deposit of moneys
18accumulated in the Trust Fund shall, under Section 4.1 of the
19State Finance Act, be deposited into the Trust Fund.
20 (b) Moneys deposited into the Trust Fund shall not be
21considered general revenue of the State of Illinois.
22 (c) Moneys deposited into the Trust Fund shall be used
23exclusively for the purposes of providing funding for the
24prosecution and defense of capital cases and for providing
25funding for post-conviction proceedings in capital cases under

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1Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in
2relation to petitions filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code
3of Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases as provided in
4this Act and shall not be appropriated, loaned, or in any
5manner transferred to the General Revenue Fund of the State of
6Illinois.
7 (d) Every fiscal year the State Treasurer shall transfer
8from the General Revenue Fund to the Capital Litigation Trust
9Fund an amount equal to the full amount of moneys appropriated
10by the General Assembly (both by original and supplemental
11appropriation), less any unexpended balance from the previous
12fiscal year, from the Capital Litigation Trust Fund for the
13specific purpose of making funding available for the
14prosecution and defense of capital cases and for the
15litigation expenses associated with post-conviction
16proceedings in capital cases under Article 122 of the Code of
17Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed
18under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in
19relation to capital cases. The Public Defender and State's
20Attorney in Cook County, the State Appellate Defender, the
21State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, and the Attorney
22General shall make annual requests for appropriations from the
23Trust Fund.
24 (1) The Public Defender in Cook County shall request
25 appropriations to the State Treasurer for expenses
26 incurred by the Public Defender and for funding for

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1 private appointed defense counsel in Cook County.
2 (2) The State's Attorney in Cook County shall request
3 an appropriation to the State Treasurer for expenses
4 incurred by the State's Attorney.
5 (3) The State Appellate Defender shall request a
6 direct appropriation from the Trust Fund for expenses
7 incurred by the State Appellate Defender in providing
8 assistance to trial attorneys under item (c)(5.1) of
9 Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender Act and for
10 expenses incurred by the State Appellate Defender in
11 representing petitioners in capital cases in
12 post-conviction proceedings under Article 122 of the Code
13 of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions
14 filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure
15 in relation to capital cases and for the representation of
16 those petitioners by attorneys approved by or contracted
17 with the State Appellate Defender and an appropriation to
18 the State Treasurer for payments from the Trust Fund for
19 the defense of cases in counties other than Cook County.
20 (4) The State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor shall
21 request a direct appropriation from the Trust Fund to pay
22 expenses incurred by the State's Attorneys Appellate
23 Prosecutor and an appropriation to the State Treasurer for
24 payments from the Trust Fund for expenses incurred by
25 State's Attorneys in counties other than Cook County.
26 (5) The Attorney General shall request a direct

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1 appropriation from the Trust Fund to pay expenses incurred
2 by the Attorney General in assisting the State's Attorneys
3 in counties other than Cook County and to pay for expenses
4 incurred by the Attorney General when the Attorney General
5 is ordered by the presiding judge of the Criminal Division
6 of the Circuit Court of Cook County to prosecute or
7 supervise the prosecution of Cook County cases and for
8 expenses incurred by the Attorney General in representing
9 the State in post-conviction proceedings in capital cases
10 under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
11 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under Section
12 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to
13 capital cases. The Public Defender and State's Attorney in
14 Cook County, the State Appellate Defender, the State's
15 Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, and the Attorney General
16 may each request supplemental appropriations from the
17 Trust Fund during the fiscal year.
18 (e) Moneys in the Trust Fund shall be expended only as
19follows:
20 (1) To pay the State Treasurer's costs to administer
21 the Trust Fund. The amount for this purpose may not exceed
22 5% in any one fiscal year of the amount otherwise
23 appropriated from the Trust Fund in the same fiscal year.
24 (2) To pay the capital litigation expenses of trial
25 defense and post-conviction proceedings in capital cases
26 under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of

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1 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under Section
2 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to
3 capital cases including, but not limited to, DNA testing,
4 including DNA testing under Section 116-3 of the Code of
5 Criminal Procedure of 1963, analysis, and expert
6 testimony, investigatory and other assistance, expert,
7 forensic, and other witnesses, and mitigation specialists,
8 and grants and aid provided to public defenders, appellate
9 defenders, and any attorney approved by or contracted with
10 the State Appellate Defender representing petitioners in
11 post-conviction proceedings in capital cases under Article
12 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in
13 relation to petitions filed under Section 2-1401 of the
14 Code of Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases or
15 assistance to attorneys who have been appointed by the
16 court to represent defendants who are charged with capital
17 crimes. Reasonable and necessary capital litigation
18 expenses include travel and per diem (lodging, meals, and
19 incidental expenses).
20 (3) To pay the compensation of trial attorneys, other
21 than public defenders or appellate defenders, who have
22 been appointed by the court to represent defendants who
23 are charged with capital crimes or attorneys approved by
24 or contracted with the State Appellate Defender to
25 represent petitioners in post-conviction proceedings in
26 capital cases under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal

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1 Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under
2 Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation
3 to capital cases.
4 (4) To provide State's Attorneys with funding for
5 capital litigation expenses and for expenses of
6 representing the State in post-conviction proceedings in
7 capital cases under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal
8 Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under
9 Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation
10 to capital cases including, but not limited to,
11 investigatory and other assistance and expert, forensic,
12 and other witnesses necessary to prosecute capital cases.
13 State's Attorneys in any county other than Cook County
14 seeking funding for capital litigation expenses and for
15 expenses of representing the State in post-conviction
16 proceedings in capital cases under Article 122 of the Code
17 of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions
18 filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure
19 in relation to capital cases including, but not limited
20 to, investigatory and other assistance and expert,
21 forensic, or other witnesses under this Section may
22 request that the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor or
23 the Attorney General, as the case may be, certify the
24 expenses as reasonable, necessary, and appropriate for
25 payment from the Trust Fund, on a form created by the State
26 Treasurer. Upon certification of the expenses and delivery

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1 of the certification to the State Treasurer, the Treasurer
2 shall pay the expenses directly from the Capital
3 Litigation Trust Fund if there are sufficient moneys in
4 the Trust Fund to pay the expenses.
5 (5) To provide financial support through the Attorney
6 General under the Attorney General Act for the several
7 county State's Attorneys outside of Cook County, but shall
8 not be used to increase personnel for the Attorney
9 General's Office, except when the Attorney General is
10 ordered by the presiding judge of the Criminal Division of
11 the Circuit Court of Cook County to prosecute or supervise
12 the prosecution of Cook County cases.
13 (6) To provide financial support through the State's
14 Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor under the State's Attorneys
15 Appellate Prosecutor's Act for the several county State's
16 Attorneys outside of Cook County, but shall not be used to
17 increase personnel for the State's Attorneys Appellate
18 Prosecutor.
19 (7) To provide financial support to the State
20 Appellate Defender under the State Appellate Defender Act.
21 Moneys expended from the Trust Fund shall be in addition
22 to county funding for Public Defenders and State's
23 Attorneys, and shall not be used to supplant or reduce
24 ordinary and customary county funding.
25 (f) Moneys in the Trust Fund shall be appropriated to the
26State Appellate Defender, the State's Attorneys Appellate

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1Prosecutor, the Attorney General, and the State Treasurer. The
2State Appellate Defender shall receive an appropriation from
3the Trust Fund to enable it to provide assistance to appointed
4defense counsel and attorneys approved by or contracted with
5the State Appellate Defender to represent petitioners in
6post-conviction proceedings in capital cases under Article 122
7of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to
8petitions filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil
9Procedure in relation to capital cases throughout the State
10and to Public Defenders in counties other than Cook. The
11State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and the Attorney
12General shall receive appropriations from the Trust Fund to
13enable them to provide assistance to State's Attorneys in
14counties other than Cook County and when the Attorney General
15is ordered by the presiding judge of the Criminal Division of
16the Circuit Court of Cook County to prosecute or supervise the
17prosecution of Cook County cases. Moneys shall be appropriated
18to the State Treasurer to enable the Treasurer: (i) to make
19grants to Cook County; (ii) to pay the expenses of Public
20Defenders, the State Appellate Defender, the Attorney General,
21the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, and
22State's Attorneys in counties other than Cook County; (iii) to
23pay the expenses and compensation of appointed defense counsel
24and attorneys approved by or contracted with the State
25Appellate Defender to represent petitioners in post-conviction
26proceedings in capital cases under Article 122 of the Code of

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1Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed
2under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in
3relation to capital cases in counties other than Cook County;
4and (iv) to pay the costs of administering the Trust Fund. All
5expenditures and grants made from the Trust Fund shall be
6subject to audit by the Auditor General.
7 (g) For Cook County, grants from the Trust Fund shall be
8made and administered as follows:
9 (1) For each State fiscal year, the State's Attorney
10 and Public Defender must each make a separate application
11 to the State Treasurer for capital litigation grants.
12 (2) The State Treasurer shall establish rules and
13 procedures for grant applications. The rules shall require
14 the Cook County Treasurer as the grant recipient to report
15 on a periodic basis to the State Treasurer how much of the
16 grant has been expended, how much of the grant is
17 remaining, and the purposes for which the grant has been
18 used. The rules may also require the Cook County Treasurer
19 to certify on a periodic basis that expenditures of the
20 funds have been made for expenses that are reasonable,
21 necessary, and appropriate for payment from the Trust
22 Fund.
23 (3) The State Treasurer shall make the grants to the
24 Cook County Treasurer as soon as possible after the
25 beginning of the State fiscal year.
26 (4) The State's Attorney or Public Defender may apply

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1 for supplemental grants during the fiscal year.
2 (5) Grant moneys shall be paid to the Cook County
3 Treasurer in block grants and held in separate accounts
4 for the State's Attorney, the Public Defender, and court
5 appointed defense counsel other than the Cook County
6 Public Defender, respectively, for the designated fiscal
7 year, and are not subject to county appropriation.
8 (6) Expenditure of grant moneys under this subsection
9 (g) is subject to audit by the Auditor General.
10 (7) The Cook County Treasurer shall immediately make
11 payment from the appropriate separate account in the
12 county treasury for capital litigation expenses to the
13 State's Attorney, Public Defender, or court appointed
14 defense counsel other than the Public Defender, as the
15 case may be, upon order of the State's Attorney, Public
16 Defender or the court, respectively.
17 (h) If a defendant in a capital case in Cook County is
18represented by court appointed counsel other than the Cook
19County Public Defender, the appointed counsel shall petition
20the court for an order directing the Cook County Treasurer to
21pay the court appointed counsel's reasonable and necessary
22compensation and capital litigation expenses from grant moneys
23provided from the Trust Fund. The petitions shall be supported
24by itemized bills showing the date, the amount of time spent,
25the work done and the total being charged for each entry. The
26court shall not authorize payment of bills that are not

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1properly itemized. The petitions shall be filed under seal and
2considered ex parte but with a court reporter present for all
3ex parte conferences. The petitions shall be reviewed by both
4the trial judge and the presiding judge of the circuit court or
5the presiding judge's designee. The petitions and orders shall
6be kept under seal and shall be exempt from Freedom of
7Information requests until the conclusion of the trial and
8appeal of the case, even if the prosecution chooses not to
9pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. Orders
10denying petitions for compensation or expenses are final.
11Counsel may not petition for expenses that may have been
12provided or compensated by the State Appellate Defender under
13item (c)(5.1) of Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender
14Act.
15 (i) In counties other than Cook County, and when the
16Attorney General is ordered by the presiding judge of the
17Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County to
18prosecute or supervise the prosecution of Cook County cases,
19and excluding capital litigation expenses or services that may
20have been provided by the State Appellate Defender under item
21(c)(5.1) of Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender Act:
22 (1) Upon certification by the circuit court, on a form
23 created by the State Treasurer, that all or a portion of
24 the expenses are reasonable, necessary, and appropriate
25 for payment from the Trust Fund and the court's delivery
26 of the certification to the Treasurer, the Treasurer shall

SB2145- 20 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 pay the certified expenses of Public Defenders and the
2 State Appellate Defender from the money appropriated to
3 the Treasurer for capital litigation expenses of Public
4 Defenders and post-conviction proceeding expenses in
5 capital cases of the State Appellate Defender and expenses
6 in relation to petitions filed under Section 2-1401 of the
7 Code of Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases in
8 any county other than Cook County, if there are sufficient
9 moneys in the Trust Fund to pay the expenses.
10 (2) If a defendant in a capital case is represented by
11 court appointed counsel other than the Public Defender,
12 the appointed counsel shall petition the court to certify
13 compensation and capital litigation expenses including,
14 but not limited to, investigatory and other assistance,
15 expert, forensic, and other witnesses, and mitigation
16 specialists as reasonable, necessary, and appropriate for
17 payment from the Trust Fund. If a petitioner in a capital
18 case who has filed a petition for post-conviction relief
19 under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of
20 1963 or a petition under Section 2-1401 of the Code of
21 Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases is
22 represented by an attorney approved by or contracted with
23 the State Appellate Defender other than the State
24 Appellate Defender, that attorney shall petition the court
25 to certify compensation and litigation expenses of
26 post-conviction proceedings under Article 122 of the Code

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1 of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or in relation to petitions
2 filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure
3 in relation to capital cases. Upon certification on a form
4 created by the State Treasurer of all or a portion of the
5 compensation and expenses certified as reasonable,
6 necessary, and appropriate for payment from the Trust Fund
7 and the court's delivery of the certification to the
8 Treasurer, the State Treasurer shall pay the certified
9 compensation and expenses from the money appropriated to
10 the Treasurer for that purpose, if there are sufficient
11 moneys in the Trust Fund to make those payments.
12 (3) A petition for capital litigation expenses or
13 post-conviction proceeding expenses or expenses incurred
14 in filing a petition under Section 2-1401 of the Code of
15 Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases under this
16 subsection shall be considered under seal and reviewed ex
17 parte with a court reporter present. Orders denying
18 petitions for compensation or expenses are final.
19 (j) If the Trust Fund is discontinued or dissolved by an
20Act of the General Assembly or by operation of law, any balance
21remaining in the Trust Fund shall be returned to the General
22Revenue Fund after deduction of administrative costs, any
23other provision of this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.
24 Section 95. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
25changing Section 7.5 as follows:

SB2145- 22 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
2 Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
3by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be
4exempt from inspection and copying:
5 (a) All information determined to be confidential
6 under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
7 Development Act.
8 (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
9 library users with specific materials under the Library
10 Records Confidentiality Act.
11 (c) Applications, related documents, and medical
12 records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
13 Procedures Board and any and all documents or other
14 records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
15 Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
16 has received.
17 (d) Information and records held by the Department of
18 Public Health and its authorized representatives relating
19 to known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible
20 disease or any information the disclosure of which is
21 restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmissible
22 Disease Control Act.
23 (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
24 under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
25 (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of

SB2145- 23 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
2 Qualifications Based Selection Act.
3 (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
4 and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
5 Tuition Act.
6 (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
7 under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
8 records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
9 general's office that would be exempt if created or
10 obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under
11 that Act.
12 (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
13 plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a
14 local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted
15 under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
16 (j) Information and data concerning the distribution
17 of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
18 under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
19 (k) Law enforcement officer identification information
20 or driver identification information compiled by a law
21 enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
22 under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
23 (l) Records and information provided to a residential
24 health care facility resident sexual assault and death
25 review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
26 Prevention Review Team Act.

SB2145- 24 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (m) Information provided to the predatory lending
2 database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
3 Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
4 authorized under that Article.
5 (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
6 compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
7 counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the
8 Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. This subsection (n)
9 shall apply until the conclusion of the trial of the case,
10 even if the prosecution chooses not to pursue the death
11 penalty prior to trial or sentencing.
12 (o) Information that is prohibited from being
13 disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
14 Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
15 (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
16 investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
17 information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
18 Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and
19 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the
20 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional
21 Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
22 Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair
23 County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
24 Act.
25 (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
26 Personnel Record Review Act.

SB2145- 25 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
2 Illinois School Student Records Act.
3 (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
4 under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
5 (t) All identified or deidentified health information
6 in the form of health data or medical records contained
7 in, stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released
8 from the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and
9 identified or deidentified health information in the form
10 of health data and medical records of the Illinois Health
11 Information Exchange in the possession of the Illinois
12 Health Information Exchange Office due to its
13 administration of the Illinois Health Information
14 Exchange. The terms "identified" and "deidentified" shall
15 be given the same meaning as in the Health Insurance
16 Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law
17 104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any
18 regulations promulgated thereunder.
19 (u) Records and information provided to an independent
20 team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
21 Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
22 (v) Names and information of people who have applied
23 for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
24 the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
25 or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
26 Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the

SB2145- 26 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
2 Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed
3 Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed
4 Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
5 Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
6 (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification
7 Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under
8 Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
9 (w) Personally identifiable information which is
10 exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
11 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
12 (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
13 under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
14 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
15 (y) Confidential information under the Adult
16 Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
17 statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
18 information about the identity and administrative finding
19 against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
20 decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of
21 an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
22 under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
23 (z) Records and information provided to a fatality
24 review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
25 Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
26 Act.

SB2145- 27 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
2 under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
3 (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
4 disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
5 (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
6 Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
7 authorized under that Act.
8 (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
9 disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
10 Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
11 (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
12 under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
13 (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
14 under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
15 (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
16 disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
17 Code.
18 (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
19 Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
20 (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
21 under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
22 the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
23 (jj) Information and reports that are required to be
24 submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day
25 and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
26 disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day

SB2145- 28 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 and Temporary Labor Services Act.
2 (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
3 Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
4 (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
5 and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
6 Aid Code.
7 (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
8 Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
9 (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
10 Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
11 (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
12 arising out of a peer support counseling session
13 prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders
14 Suicide Prevention Act.
15 (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
16 an employee of an emergency services provider or law
17 enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
18 Prevention Act.
19 (qq) Information and records held by the Department of
20 Public Health and its authorized representatives collected
21 under the Reproductive Health Act.
22 (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
23 the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
24 (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of
25 Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois
26 Human Rights Act.

SB2145- 29 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy
2 Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that
3 Act.
4 (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
5 Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.
6 (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
7 subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois
8 Public Aid Code.
9 (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
10 Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.
11 (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or
12 information that shall not be made public under the
13 Illinois Insurance Code.
14 (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
15 the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
16 (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
17 the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
18 (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed
19 under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.
20 (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure
21 by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State
22 Police Act.
23 (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section
24 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
25 Administrative Code of Illinois.
26 (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed

SB2145- 30 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for
2 Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human
3 Trafficking, or Stalking Act.
4 (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed
5 under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic
6 Violence Fatality Review Act.
7 (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera
8 Act. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after
9 July 1, 2023.
10 (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under
11 paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse
12 Agency Licensing Act.
13 (hhh) Information submitted to the Department of State
14 Police in an affidavit or application for an assault
15 weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement,
16 .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge
17 endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card
18 Act.
19(Source: P.A. 101-13, eff. 6-12-19; 101-27, eff. 6-25-19;
20101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-236, eff.
211-1-20; 101-375, eff. 8-16-19; 101-377, eff. 8-16-19; 101-452,
22eff. 1-1-20; 101-466, eff. 1-1-20; 101-600, eff. 12-6-19;
23101-620, eff 12-20-19; 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 101-652, eff.
241-1-22; 101-656, eff. 3-23-21; 102-36, eff. 6-25-21; 102-237,
25eff. 1-1-22; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21;
26102-559, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-946, eff.

SB2145- 31 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
17-1-22; 102-1042, eff. 6-3-22; 102-1116, eff. 1-10-23.)
2 Section 100. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
3Section 5.990 as follows:
4 (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
5 Sec. 5.990. The Capital Litigation Trust Fund.
6 Section 105. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
7changing Section 9-1 as follows:
8 (720 ILCS 5/9-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 9-1)
9 Sec. 9-1. First degree murder; death penalties;
10exceptions; separate hearings; proof; findings; appellate
11procedures; reversals.
12 (a) A person who kills an individual without lawful
13justification commits first degree murder if, in performing
14the acts which cause the death:
15 (1) he or she either intends to kill or do great bodily
16 harm to that individual or another, or knows that such
17 acts will cause death to that individual or another; or
18 (2) he or she knows that such acts create a strong
19 probability of death or great bodily harm to that
20 individual or another; or
21 (3) he or she, acting alone or with one or more
22 participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible

SB2145- 32 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 felony other than second degree murder, and in the course
2 of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, he
3 or she or another participant causes the death of a
4 person.
5 (b) Aggravating Factors. A defendant who at the time of
6the commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or
7more and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may
8be sentenced to death if:
9 (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer,
10 employee of an institution or facility of the Department
11 of Corrections or any similar local correctional agency,
12 or fireman killed in the course of performing his official
13 duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official
14 duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her
15 official duties, and the defendant knew or should have
16 known that the murdered individual was so employed a peace
17 officer or fireman; or
18 (2) (blank); or the murdered individual was an
19 employee of an institution or facility of the Department
20 of Corrections, or any similar local correctional agency,
21 killed in the course of performing his or her official
22 duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official
23 duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her
24 official duties, or the murdered individual was an inmate
25 at such institution or facility and was killed on the
26 grounds thereof, or the murdered individual was otherwise

SB2145- 33 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 present in such institution or facility with the knowledge
2 and approval of the chief administrative officer thereof;
3 or
4 (3) the defendant has been convicted of murdering two
5 or more individuals under subsection (a) of this Section
6 or under any law of the United States or of any state which
7 is substantially similar to subsection (a) of this Section
8 regardless of whether the deaths occurred as the result of
9 the same act or of several related or unrelated acts so
10 long as the deaths were the result of either an intent to
11 kill more than one person or of separate acts which the
12 defendant knew would cause death or create a strong
13 probability of death or great bodily harm to the murdered
14 individual or another; or
15 (4) (blank); or the murdered individual was killed as
16 a result of the hijacking of an airplane, train, ship,
17 bus, or other public conveyance; or
18 (5) (blank); or the defendant committed the murder
19 pursuant to a contract, agreement, or understanding by
20 which he or she was to receive money or anything of value
21 in return for committing the murder or procured another to
22 commit the murder for money or anything of value; or
23 (6) (blank); or the murdered individual was killed in
24 the course of another felony if:
25 (a) the murdered individual:
26 (i) was actually killed by the defendant, or

SB2145- 34 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (ii) received physical injuries personally
2 inflicted by the defendant substantially
3 contemporaneously with physical injuries caused by
4 one or more persons for whose conduct the
5 defendant is legally accountable under Section 5-2
6 of this Code, and the physical injuries inflicted
7 by either the defendant or the other person or
8 persons for whose conduct he is legally
9 accountable caused the death of the murdered
10 individual; and
11 (b) in performing the acts which caused the death
12 of the murdered individual or which resulted in
13 physical injuries personally inflicted by the
14 defendant on the murdered individual under the
15 circumstances of subdivision (ii) of subparagraph (a)
16 of paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of this Section,
17 the defendant acted with the intent to kill the
18 murdered individual or with the knowledge that his
19 acts created a strong probability of death or great
20 bodily harm to the murdered individual or another; and
21 (c) the other felony was an inherently violent
22 crime or the attempt to commit an inherently violent
23 crime. In this subparagraph (c), "inherently violent
24 crime" includes, but is not limited to, armed robbery,
25 robbery, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child,
26 aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated

SB2145- 35 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated
2 arson, aggravated stalking, residential burglary, and
3 home invasion; or
4 (7) the murdered individual was under 12 years of age
5 and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or
6 heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
7 (8) (blank); or the defendant committed the murder
8 with intent to prevent the murdered individual from
9 testifying or participating in any criminal investigation
10 or prosecution or giving material assistance to the State
11 in any investigation or prosecution, either against the
12 defendant or another; or the defendant committed the
13 murder because the murdered individual was a witness in
14 any prosecution or gave material assistance to the State
15 in any investigation or prosecution, either against the
16 defendant or another; for purposes of this paragraph (8),
17 "participating in any criminal investigation or
18 prosecution" is intended to include those appearing in the
19 proceedings in any capacity such as trial judges,
20 prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, witnesses,
21 or jurors; or
22 (9) (blank); or the defendant, while committing an
23 offense punishable under Sections 401, 401.1, 401.2, 405,
24 405.2, 407 or 407.1 or subsection (b) of Section 404 of the
25 Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or while engaged in a
26 conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,

SB2145- 36 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
2 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
3 killing of the murdered individual; or
4 (10) (blank); or the defendant was incarcerated in an
5 institution or facility of the Department of Corrections
6 at the time of the murder, and while committing an offense
7 punishable as a felony under Illinois law, or while
8 engaged in a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such
9 offense, intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
10 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
11 killing of the murdered individual; or
12 (11) (blank); or the murder was committed in a cold,
13 calculated and premeditated manner pursuant to a
14 preconceived plan, scheme or design to take a human life
15 by unlawful means, and the conduct of the defendant
16 created a reasonable expectation that the death of a human
17 being would result therefrom; or
18 (12) (blank); or the murdered individual was an
19 emergency medical technician - ambulance, emergency
20 medical technician - intermediate, emergency medical
21 technician - paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical
22 assistance or first aid personnel, employed by a
23 municipality or other governmental unit, killed in the
24 course of performing his official duties, to prevent the
25 performance of his official duties, or in retaliation for
26 performing his official duties, and the defendant knew or

SB2145- 37 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 should have known that the murdered individual was an
2 emergency medical technician - ambulance, emergency
3 medical technician - intermediate, emergency medical
4 technician - paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical
5 assistance or first aid personnel; or
6 (13) (blank); or the defendant was a principal
7 administrator, organizer, or leader of a calculated
8 criminal drug conspiracy consisting of a hierarchical
9 position of authority superior to that of all other
10 members of the conspiracy, and the defendant counseled,
11 commanded, induced, procured, or caused the intentional
12 killing of the murdered person; or
13 (14) (blank); or the murder was intentional and
14 involved the infliction of torture. For the purpose of
15 this Section torture means the infliction of or subjection
16 to extreme physical pain, motivated by an intent to
17 increase or prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the
18 victim; or
19 (15) (blank); or the murder was committed as a result
20 of the intentional discharge of a firearm by the defendant
21 from a motor vehicle and the victim was not present within
22 the motor vehicle; or
23 (16) (blank); or the murdered individual was 60 years
24 of age or older and the death resulted from exceptionally
25 brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty;
26 or

SB2145- 38 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 (17) (blank); or the murdered individual was a person
2 with a disability and the defendant knew or should have
3 known that the murdered individual was a person with a
4 disability. For purposes of this paragraph (17), "person
5 with a disability" means a person who suffers from a
6 permanent physical or mental impairment resulting from
7 disease, an injury, a functional disorder, or a congenital
8 condition that renders the person incapable of adequately
9 providing for his or her own health or personal care; or
10 (18) (blank); or the murder was committed by reason of
11 any person's activity as a community policing volunteer or
12 to prevent any person from engaging in activity as a
13 community policing volunteer; or
14 (19) (blank); or the murdered individual was subject
15 to an order of protection and the murder was committed by a
16 person against whom the same order of protection was
17 issued under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986;
18 or
19 (20) murder was committed by the defendant the
20 murdered individual was known by the defendant to be a
21 teacher or other person employed in any school and the
22 teacher or other employee is upon the grounds of a school
23 or grounds adjacent to a school, or is in any part of a
24 building used for school purposes; or
25 (21) the murder was committed by the defendant in
26 connection with or as a result of the offense of terrorism

SB2145- 39 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 as defined in Section 29D-14.9 of this Code; or
2 (22) the murdered individual was a member of a
3 congregation engaged in prayer or other religious
4 activities at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other
5 building, structure, or place used for religious worship.
6 (b-5) Aggravating Factor; Natural Life Imprisonment. A
7defendant who has been found guilty of first degree murder and
8who at the time of the commission of the offense had attained
9the age of 18 years or more may be sentenced to natural life
10imprisonment if (i) the murdered individual was a physician,
11physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
12registered nurse, (ii) the defendant knew or should have known
13that the murdered individual was a physician, physician
14assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
15registered nurse, and (iii) the murdered individual was killed
16in the course of acting in his or her capacity as a physician,
17physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
18registered nurse, or to prevent him or her from acting in that
19capacity, or in retaliation for his or her acting in that
20capacity.
21 (c) Consideration of factors in Aggravation and
22Mitigation.
23 The court shall consider, or shall instruct the jury to
24consider any aggravating and any mitigating factors which are
25relevant to the imposition of the death penalty. Aggravating
26factors may include but need not be limited to those factors

SB2145- 40 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1set forth in subsection (b). Mitigating factors may include
2but need not be limited to the following:
3 (1) the defendant has no significant history of prior
4 criminal activity;
5 (2) the murder was committed while the defendant was
6 under the influence of extreme mental or emotional
7 disturbance, although not such as to constitute a defense
8 to prosecution;
9 (3) the murdered individual was a participant in the
10 defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the
11 homicidal act;
12 (4) the defendant acted under the compulsion of threat
13 or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great
14 bodily harm;
15 (5) the defendant was not personally present during
16 commission of the act or acts causing death;
17 (6) the defendant's background includes a history of
18 extreme emotional or physical abuse;
19 (7) the defendant suffers from a reduced mental
20 capacity.
21 Provided, however, that an action that does not otherwise
22mitigate first degree murder cannot qualify as a mitigating
23factor for first degree murder because of the discovery,
24knowledge, or disclosure of the victim's sexual orientation as
25defined in Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
26 (d) Separate sentencing hearing.

SB2145- 41 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1 Where requested by the State, the court shall conduct a
2separate sentencing proceeding to determine the existence of
3factors set forth in subsection (b) and to consider any
4aggravating or mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
5(c). The proceeding shall be conducted:
6 (1) before the jury that determined the defendant's
7 guilt; or
8 (2) before a jury impanelled for the purpose of the
9 proceeding if:
10 A. the defendant was convicted upon a plea of
11 guilty; or
12 B. the defendant was convicted after a trial
13 before the court sitting without a jury; or
14 C. the court for good cause shown discharges the
15 jury that determined the defendant's guilt; or
16 (3) before the court alone if the defendant waives a
17 jury for the separate proceeding.
18 (e) Evidence and Argument.
19 During the proceeding any information relevant to any of
20the factors set forth in subsection (b) may be presented by
21either the State or the defendant under the rules governing
22the admission of evidence at criminal trials. Any information
23relevant to any additional aggravating factors or any
24mitigating factors indicated in subsection (c) may be
25presented by the State or defendant regardless of its
26admissibility under the rules governing the admission of

SB2145- 42 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1evidence at criminal trials. The State and the defendant shall
2be given fair opportunity to rebut any information received at
3the hearing.
4 (f) Proof.
5 The burden of proof of establishing the existence of any
6of the factors set forth in subsection (b) is on the State and
7shall not be satisfied unless established beyond a reasonable
8doubt.
9 (g) Procedure - Jury.
10 If at the separate sentencing proceeding the jury finds
11that none of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exists,
12the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
13imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
14Corrections. If there is a unanimous finding by the jury that
15one or more of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exist,
16the jury shall consider aggravating and mitigating factors as
17instructed by the court and shall determine whether the
18sentence of death shall be imposed. If the jury determines
19unanimously, after weighing the factors in aggravation and
20mitigation, that death is the appropriate sentence, the court
21shall sentence the defendant to death. If the court does not
22concur with the jury determination that death is the
23appropriate sentence, the court shall set forth reasons in
24writing including what facts or circumstances the court relied
25upon, along with any relevant documents, that compelled the
26court to non-concur with the sentence. This document and any

SB2145- 43 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1attachments shall be part of the record for appellate review.
2The court shall be bound by the jury's sentencing
3determination.
4 If after weighing the factors in aggravation and
5mitigation, one or more jurors determines that death is not
6the appropriate sentence, the court shall sentence the
7defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
8Unified Code of Corrections.
9 (h) Procedure - No Jury.
10 In a proceeding before the court alone, if the court finds
11that none of the factors found in subsection (b) exists, the
12court shall sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment
13under Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections.
14 If the Court determines that one or more of the factors set
15forth in subsection (b) exists, the Court shall consider any
16aggravating and mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
17(c). If the Court determines, after weighing the factors in
18aggravation and mitigation, that death is the appropriate
19sentence, the Court shall sentence the defendant to death.
20 If the court finds that death is not the appropriate
21sentence, the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
22imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
23Corrections.
24 (h-5) Decertification as a capital case.
25 In a case in which the defendant has been found guilty of
26first degree murder by a judge or jury, or a case on remand for

SB2145- 44 -LRB103 27176 RLC 53546 b
1resentencing, and the State seeks the death penalty as an
2appropriate sentence, on the court's own motion or the written
3motion of the defendant, the court may decertify the case as a
4death penalty case if the court finds that the only evidence
5supporting the defendant's conviction is the uncorroborated
6testimony of an informant witness, as defined in Section
7115-21 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, concerning
8the confession or admission of the defendant or that the sole
9evidence against the defendant is a single eyewitness or
10single accomplice without any other corroborating evidence. If
11the court decertifies the case as a capital case under either
12of the grounds set forth above, the court shall issue a written
13finding. The State may pursue its right to appeal the
14decertification pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1). If
15the court does not decertify the case as a capital case, the
16matter shall proceed to the eligibility phase of the
17sentencing hearing.
18 (i) Appellate Procedure.
19 The conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to
20automatic review by the Supreme Court. Such review shall be in
21accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. The
22Illinois Supreme Court may overturn the death sentence, and
23order the imposition of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
24Unified Code of Corrections if the court finds that the death
25sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
26case. If the Illinois Supreme Court finds that the death

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1sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
2case, independent of any procedural grounds for relief, the
3Illinois Supreme Court shall issue a written opinion
4explaining this finding.
5 (j) Disposition of reversed death sentence.
6 In the event that the death penalty in this Act is held to
7be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States
8or of the State of Illinois, any person convicted of first
9degree murder shall be sentenced by the court to a term of
10imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
11Corrections.
12 In the event that any death sentence pursuant to the
13sentencing provisions of this Section is declared
14unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States or
15of the State of Illinois, the court having jurisdiction over a
16person previously sentenced to death shall cause the defendant
17to be brought before the court, and the court shall sentence
18the defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
19Unified Code of Corrections.
20 (k) Guidelines for seeking the death penalty.
21 The Attorney General and State's Attorneys Association
22shall consult on voluntary guidelines for procedures governing
23whether or not to seek the death penalty. The guidelines do not
24have the force of law and are only advisory in nature.
25(Source: P.A. 100-460, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18;
26100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-223, eff. 1-1-20; 101-652, eff.

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17-1-21.)
2 Section 110. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
3amended by changing Sections 113-3 and 119-1 as follows:
4 (725 ILCS 5/113-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 113-3)
5 Sec. 113-3. (a) Every person charged with an offense shall
6be allowed counsel before pleading to the charge. If the
7defendant desires counsel and has been unable to obtain same
8before arraignment the court shall recess court or continue
9the cause for a reasonable time to permit defendant to obtain
10counsel and consult with him before pleading to the charge. If
11the accused is a dissolved corporation, and is not represented
12by counsel, the court may, in the interest of justice, appoint
13as counsel a licensed attorney of this State.
14 (b) In all cases, except where the penalty is a fine only,
15if the court determines that the defendant is indigent and
16desires counsel, the Public Defender shall be appointed as
17counsel. If there is no Public Defender in the county or if the
18defendant requests counsel other than the Public Defender and
19the court finds that the rights of the defendant will be
20prejudiced by the appointment of the Public Defender, the
21court shall appoint as counsel a licensed attorney at law of
22this State, except that in a county having a population of
232,000,000 or more the Public Defender shall be appointed as
24counsel in all misdemeanor cases where the defendant is

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1indigent and desires counsel unless the case involves multiple
2defendants, in which case the court may appoint counsel other
3than the Public Defender for the additional defendants. The
4court shall require an affidavit signed by any defendant who
5requests court-appointed counsel. Such affidavit shall be in
6the form established by the Supreme Court containing
7sufficient information to ascertain the assets and liabilities
8of that defendant. The Court may direct the Clerk of the
9Circuit Court to assist the defendant in the completion of the
10affidavit. Any person who knowingly files such affidavit
11containing false information concerning his assets and
12liabilities shall be liable to the county where the case, in
13which such false affidavit is filed, is pending for the
14reasonable value of the services rendered by the public
15defender or other court-appointed counsel in the case to the
16extent that such services were unjustly or falsely procured.
17 (c) Upon the filing with the court of a verified statement
18of services rendered the court shall order the county
19treasurer of the county of trial to pay counsel other than the
20Public Defender a reasonable fee. The court shall consider all
21relevant circumstances, including but not limited to the time
22spent while court is in session, other time spent in
23representing the defendant, and expenses reasonably incurred
24by counsel. In counties with a population greater than
252,000,000, the court shall order the county treasurer of the
26county of trial to pay counsel other than the Public Defender a

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1reasonable fee stated in the order and based upon a rate of
2compensation of not more than $40 for each hour spent while
3court is in session and not more than $30 for each hour
4otherwise spent representing a defendant, and such
5compensation shall not exceed $150 for each defendant
6represented in misdemeanor cases and $1250 in felony cases, in
7addition to expenses reasonably incurred as hereinafter in
8this Section provided, except that, in extraordinary
9circumstances, payment in excess of the limits herein stated
10may be made if the trial court certifies that such payment is
11necessary to provide fair compensation for protracted
12representation. A trial court may entertain the filing of this
13verified statement before the termination of the cause, and
14may order the provisional payment of sums during the pendency
15of the cause.
16 (d) In capital cases, in addition to counsel, if the court
17determines that the defendant is indigent the court may, upon
18the filing with the court of a verified statement of services
19rendered, order the county Treasurer of the county of trial to
20pay necessary expert witnesses for defendant reasonable
21compensation stated in the order not to exceed $250 for each
22defendant.
23 (e) If the court in any county having a population greater
24than 2,000,000 determines that the defendant is indigent the
25court may, upon the filing with the court of a verified
26statement of such expenses, order the county treasurer of the

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1county of trial, in such counties having a population greater
2than 2,000,000 to pay the general expenses of the trial
3incurred by the defendant not to exceed $50 for each
4defendant.
5 (f) The provisions of this Section relating to appointment
6of counsel, compensation of counsel, and payment of expenses
7in capital cases apply except when the compensation and
8expenses are being provided under the Capital Crimes
9Litigation Act of 2023.
10(Source: P.A. 91-589, eff. 1-1-00.)
11 (725 ILCS 5/119-1)
12 Sec. 119-1. Death penalty restored abolished.
13 (a) (Blank). Beginning on the effective date of this
14amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, notwithstanding
15any other law to the contrary, the death penalty is abolished
16and a sentence to death may not be imposed.
17 (b) All unobligated and unexpended moneys remaining in the
18Capital Litigation Trust Fund on the effective date of this
19amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be
20transferred into the Death Penalty Abolition Fund on the
21effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
22Assembly shall be transferred into the Capital Litigation
23Trust Fund , a special fund in the State treasury, to be
24expended by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information
25Authority, for services for families of victims of homicide or

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1murder and for training of law enforcement personnel.
2(Source: P.A. 96-1543, eff. 7-1-11.)
3 Section 115. The State Appellate Defender Act is amended
4by changing Section 10 as follows:
5 (725 ILCS 105/10) (from Ch. 38, par. 208-10)
6 Sec. 10. Powers and duties of State Appellate Defender.
7 (a) The State Appellate Defender shall represent indigent
8persons on appeal in criminal and delinquent minor
9proceedings, when appointed to do so by a court under a Supreme
10Court Rule or law of this State.
11 (b) The State Appellate Defender shall submit a budget for
12the approval of the State Appellate Defender Commission.
13 (c) The State Appellate Defender may:
14 (1) maintain a panel of private attorneys available to
15 serve as counsel on a case basis;
16 (2) establish programs, alone or in conjunction with
17 law schools, for the purpose of utilizing volunteer law
18 students as legal assistants;
19 (3) cooperate and consult with state agencies,
20 professional associations, and other groups concerning the
21 causes of criminal conduct, the rehabilitation and
22 correction of persons charged with and convicted of crime,
23 the administration of criminal justice, and, in counties
24 of less than 1,000,000 population, study, design, develop

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1 and implement model systems for the delivery of trial
2 level defender services, and make an annual report to the
3 General Assembly;
4 (4) hire investigators to provide investigative
5 services to appointed counsel and county public defenders;
6 (5) (blank);
7 (5.1) in cases in which a death sentence is an
8 authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with legal
9 assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses,
10 investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds
11 appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically
12 for that purpose by the General Assembly. The Office of
13 State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve
14 as trial counsel in capital cases;
15 (5.5) provide training to county public defenders;
16 (5.7) provide county public defenders with the
17 assistance of expert witnesses and investigators from
18 funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender
19 specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. The
20 Office of the State Appellate Defender shall not be
21 appointed to act as trial counsel;
22 (6) develop a Juvenile Defender Resource Center to:
23 (i) study, design, develop, and implement model systems
24 for the delivery of trial level defender services for
25 juveniles in the justice system; (ii) in cases in which a
26 sentence of incarceration or an adult sentence, or both,

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1 is an authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with
2 legal advice and the assistance of expert witnesses and
3 investigators from funds appropriated to the Office of the
4 State Appellate Defender by the General Assembly
5 specifically for that purpose; (iii) develop and provide
6 training to public defenders on juvenile justice issues,
7 utilizing resources including the State and local bar
8 associations, the Illinois Public Defender Association,
9 law schools, the Midwest Juvenile Defender Center, and pro
10 bono efforts by law firms; and (iv) make an annual report
11 to the General Assembly.
12 Investigators employed by the Capital Trial Assistance
13Unit and Capital Post Conviction Unit of the State Appellate
14Defender shall be authorized to inquire through the Illinois
15State Police or local law enforcement with the Law Enforcement
16Agencies Data System (LEADS) under Section 2605-375 of the
17Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to ascertain whether
18their potential witnesses have a criminal background,
19including, but not limited to: (i) warrants; (ii) arrests;
20(iii) convictions; and (iv) officer safety information. This
21authorization applies only to information held on the State
22level and shall be used only to protect the personal safety of
23the investigators. Any information that is obtained through
24this inquiry may not be disclosed by the investigators.
25 (c-5) For each State fiscal year, the State Appellate
26Defender shall request a direct appropriation from the Capital

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1Litigation Trust Fund for expenses incurred by the State
2Appellate Defender in providing assistance to trial attorneys
3under paragraph (5.1) of subsection (c) of this Section and
4for expenses incurred by the State Appellate Defender in
5representing petitioners in capital cases in post-conviction
6proceedings under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal
7Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under
8Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to
9capital cases and for the representation of those petitioners
10by attorneys approved by or contracted with the State
11Appellate Defender and an appropriation to the State Treasurer
12for payments from the Trust Fund for the defense of cases in
13counties other than Cook County. The State Appellate Defender
14may appear before the General Assembly at other times during
15the State's fiscal year to request supplemental appropriations
16from the Trust Fund to the State Treasurer.
17 (d) (Blank).
18 (e) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
19shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required
20by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and
21filing such additional copies with the State Government Report
22Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required
23under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
24(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)
25 Section 999. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
261, 2024.
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