Bill Text: IL HB2955 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Amends the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Restores the death penalty for the first degree murder of a peace officer killed while performing his or her official duties. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides specified funding and resources for cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund are transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a sentence of death 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 Freedom of Information Act, the State Finance Act, and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-16 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Chris Miller [HB2955 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB2955-Introduced.html


103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB2955

Introduced , by Rep. Dan Caulkins

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 Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963. Restores the death penalty for the first degree murder of a peace officer killed while performing his or her official duties. Enacts the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides specified funding and resources for cases in which a sentence of death is an authorized disposition. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that all unobligated and unexpended moneys in the Death Penalty Abolition Fund are transferred into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the State Appellate Defender Act. Provides that in cases in which a sentence of death 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 Freedom of Information Act, the State Finance Act, and the Criminal Code of 2012 to make conforming changes.
LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b

A BILL FOR

HB2955LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 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

HB2955- 4 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
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

HB2955- 9 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
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
21Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor, and the
22Attorney General shall make annual requests for appropriations
23from the Trust 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 Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate
21 Prosecutor shall request a direct appropriation from the
22 Trust Fund to pay expenses incurred by the Office of the
23 State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor and an
24 appropriation to the State Treasurer for payments from the
25 Trust Fund for expenses incurred by State's Attorneys in
26 counties other than Cook County.

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

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

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

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

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

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1Defender to represent petitioners in post-conviction
2proceedings in capital cases under Article 122 of the Code of
3Criminal Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed
4under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in
5relation to capital cases in counties other than Cook County,
6and (iv) to pay the costs of administering the Trust Fund. All
7expenditures and grants made from the Trust Fund shall be
8subject to audit by the Auditor General.
9 (g) For Cook County, grants from the Trust Fund shall be
10made and administered as follows:
11 (1) For each State fiscal year, the State's Attorney
12 and Public Defender must each make a separate application
13 to the State Treasurer for capital litigation grants.
14 (2) The State Treasurer shall establish rules and
15 procedures for grant applications. The rules shall require
16 the Cook County Treasurer as the grant recipient to report
17 on a periodic basis to the State Treasurer how much of the
18 grant has been expended, how much of the grant is
19 remaining, and the purposes for which the grant has been
20 used. The rules may also require the Cook County Treasurer
21 to certify on a periodic basis that expenditures of the
22 funds have been made for expenses that are reasonable,
23 necessary, and appropriate for payment from the Trust
24 Fund.
25 (3) The State Treasurer shall make the grants to the
26 Cook County Treasurer as soon as possible after the

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

HB2955- 19 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1the work done and the total being charged for each entry. The
2court shall not authorize payment of bills that are not
3properly itemized. The petitions shall be filed under seal and
4considered ex parte but with a court reporter present for all
5ex parte conferences. The petitions shall be reviewed by both
6the trial judge and the presiding judge of the circuit court or
7the presiding judge's designee. The petitions and orders shall
8be kept under seal and shall be exempt from Freedom of
9Information requests until the conclusion of the trial and
10appeal of the case, even if the prosecution chooses not to
11pursue the death penalty prior to trial or sentencing. Orders
12denying petitions for compensation or expenses are final.
13Counsel may not petition for expenses that may have been
14provided or compensated by the State Appellate Defender under
15item (c)(5.1) of Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender
16Act.
17 (i) In counties other than Cook County, and when the
18Attorney General is ordered by the presiding judge of the
19Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County to
20prosecute or supervise the prosecution of Cook County cases,
21and excluding capital litigation expenses or services that may
22have been provided by the State Appellate Defender under item
23(c)(5.1) of Section 10 of the State Appellate Defender Act:
24 (1) Upon certification by the circuit court, on a form
25 created by the State Treasurer, that all or a portion of
26 the expenses are reasonable, necessary, and appropriate

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

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1 to certify compensation and litigation expenses of
2 post-conviction proceedings under Article 122 of the Code
3 of Criminal Procedure of 1963 or in relation to petitions
4 filed under Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure
5 in relation to capital cases. Upon certification on a form
6 created by the State Treasurer of all or a portion of the
7 compensation and expenses certified as reasonable,
8 necessary, and appropriate for payment from the Trust Fund
9 and the court's delivery of the certification to the
10 Treasurer, the State Treasurer shall pay the certified
11 compensation and expenses from the money appropriated to
12 the Treasurer for that purpose, if there are sufficient
13 moneys in the Trust Fund to make those payments.
14 (3) A petition for capital litigation expenses or
15 post-conviction proceeding expenses or expenses incurred
16 in filing a petition under Section 2-1401 of the Code of
17 Civil Procedure in relation to capital cases under this
18 subsection shall be considered under seal and reviewed ex
19 parte with a court reporter present. Orders denying
20 petitions for compensation or expenses are final.
21 (j) If the Trust Fund is discontinued or dissolved by an
22Act of the General Assembly or by operation of law, any balance
23remaining in the Trust Fund shall be returned to the General
24Revenue Fund after deduction of administrative costs, any
25other provision of this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.

HB2955- 22 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 Section 100. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
2changing Section 7.5 as follows:
3 (5 ILCS 140/7.5)
4 Sec. 7.5. Statutory exemptions. To the extent provided for
5by the statutes referenced below, the following shall be
6exempt from inspection and copying:
7 (a) All information determined to be confidential
8 under Section 4002 of the Technology Advancement and
9 Development Act.
10 (b) Library circulation and order records identifying
11 library users with specific materials under the Library
12 Records Confidentiality Act.
13 (c) Applications, related documents, and medical
14 records received by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
15 Procedures Board and any and all documents or other
16 records prepared by the Experimental Organ Transplantation
17 Procedures Board or its staff relating to applications it
18 has received.
19 (d) Information and records held by the Department of
20 Public Health and its authorized representatives relating
21 to known or suspected cases of sexually transmissible
22 disease or any information the disclosure of which is
23 restricted under the Illinois Sexually Transmissible
24 Disease Control Act.
25 (e) Information the disclosure of which is exempted

HB2955- 23 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 under Section 30 of the Radon Industry Licensing Act.
2 (f) Firm performance evaluations under Section 55 of
3 the Architectural, Engineering, and Land Surveying
4 Qualifications Based Selection Act.
5 (g) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
6 and exempted under Section 50 of the Illinois Prepaid
7 Tuition Act.
8 (h) Information the disclosure of which is exempted
9 under the State Officials and Employees Ethics Act, and
10 records of any lawfully created State or local inspector
11 general's office that would be exempt if created or
12 obtained by an Executive Inspector General's office under
13 that Act.
14 (i) Information contained in a local emergency energy
15 plan submitted to a municipality in accordance with a
16 local emergency energy plan ordinance that is adopted
17 under Section 11-21.5-5 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
18 (j) Information and data concerning the distribution
19 of surcharge moneys collected and remitted by carriers
20 under the Emergency Telephone System Act.
21 (k) Law enforcement officer identification information
22 or driver identification information compiled by a law
23 enforcement agency or the Department of Transportation
24 under Section 11-212 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
25 (l) Records and information provided to a residential
26 health care facility resident sexual assault and death

HB2955- 24 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 review team or the Executive Council under the Abuse
2 Prevention Review Team Act.
3 (m) Information provided to the predatory lending
4 database created pursuant to Article 3 of the Residential
5 Real Property Disclosure Act, except to the extent
6 authorized under that Article.
7 (n) Defense budgets and petitions for certification of
8 compensation and expenses for court appointed trial
9 counsel as provided under Sections 10 and 15 of the
10 Capital Crimes Litigation Act or the Capital Crimes
11 Litigation Act of 2023. This subsection (n) shall apply
12 until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the
13 prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior
14 to trial or sentencing.
15 (o) Information that is prohibited from being
16 disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
17 Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
18 (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
19 investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
20 information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
21 Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and
22 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the
23 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional
24 Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
25 Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair
26 County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety

HB2955- 25 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 Act.
2 (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
3 Personnel Record Review Act.
4 (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
5 Illinois School Student Records Act.
6 (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
7 under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
8 (t) All identified or deidentified health information
9 in the form of health data or medical records contained
10 in, stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released
11 from the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and
12 identified or deidentified health information in the form
13 of health data and medical records of the Illinois Health
14 Information Exchange in the possession of the Illinois
15 Health Information Exchange Office due to its
16 administration of the Illinois Health Information
17 Exchange. The terms "identified" and "deidentified" shall
18 be given the same meaning as in the Health Insurance
19 Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law
20 104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any
21 regulations promulgated thereunder.
22 (u) Records and information provided to an independent
23 team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
24 Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
25 (v) Names and information of people who have applied
26 for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under

HB2955- 26 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
2 or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm
3 Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
4 Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
5 Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed
6 Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed
7 Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
8 Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
9 (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification
10 Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under
11 Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
12 (w) Personally identifiable information which is
13 exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
14 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
15 (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
16 under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
17 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
18 (y) Confidential information under the Adult
19 Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
20 statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
21 information about the identity and administrative finding
22 against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
23 decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of
24 an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
25 under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
26 (z) Records and information provided to a fatality

HB2955- 27 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
2 Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services
3 Act.
4 (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
5 under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
6 (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
7 disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
8 (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
9 Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
10 authorized under that Act.
11 (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
12 disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
13 Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
14 (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
15 under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
16 (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
17 under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
18 (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
19 disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
20 Code.
21 (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
22 Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
23 (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
24 under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
25 the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
26 (jj) Information and reports that are required to be

HB2955- 28 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day
2 and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from
3 disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
4 and Temporary Labor Services Act.
5 (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
6 Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
7 (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
8 and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
9 Aid Code.
10 (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
11 Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
12 (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
13 Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
14 (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
15 arising out of a peer support counseling session
16 prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders
17 Suicide Prevention Act.
18 (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
19 an employee of an emergency services provider or law
20 enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
21 Prevention Act.
22 (qq) Information and records held by the Department of
23 Public Health and its authorized representatives collected
24 under the Reproductive Health Act.
25 (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
26 the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.

HB2955- 29 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of
2 Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois
3 Human Rights Act.
4 (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy
5 Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that
6 Act.
7 (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
8 Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.
9 (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
10 subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois
11 Public Aid Code.
12 (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
13 Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.
14 (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or
15 information that shall not be made public under the
16 Illinois Insurance Code.
17 (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
18 the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
19 (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
20 the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
21 (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed
22 under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.
23 (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure
24 by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State
25 Police Act.
26 (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section

HB2955- 30 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
2 Administrative Code of Illinois.
3 (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed
4 under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for
5 Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human
6 Trafficking, or Stalking Act.
7 (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed
8 under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic
9 Violence Fatality Review Act.
10 (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera
11 Act. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after
12 July 1, 2023.
13 (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under
14 paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse
15 Agency Licensing Act.
16 (hhh) Information submitted to the Department of State
17 Police in an affidavit or application for an assault
18 weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement,
19 .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge
20 endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card
21 Act.
22(Source: P.A. 101-13, eff. 6-12-19; 101-27, eff. 6-25-19;
23101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-236, eff.
241-1-20; 101-375, eff. 8-16-19; 101-377, eff. 8-16-19; 101-452,
25eff. 1-1-20; 101-466, eff. 1-1-20; 101-600, eff. 12-6-19;
26101-620, eff 12-20-19; 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 101-652, eff.

HB2955- 31 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
11-1-22; 101-656, eff. 3-23-21; 102-36, eff. 6-25-21; 102-237,
2eff. 1-1-22; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21;
3102-559, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-946, eff.
47-1-22; 102-1042, eff. 6-3-22; 102-1116, eff. 1-10-23.)
5 Section 105. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
6Section 5.990 as follows:
7 (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
8 Sec. 5.990. The Capital Litigation Trust Fund.
9 Section 110. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
10changing Section 9-1 as follows:
11 (720 ILCS 5/9-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 9-1)
12 Sec. 9-1. First degree murder; death penalties;
13exceptions; separate hearings; proof; findings; appellate
14procedures; reversals.
15 (a) A person who kills an individual without lawful
16justification commits first degree murder if, in performing
17the acts which cause the death:
18 (1) he or she either intends to kill or do great bodily
19 harm to that individual or another, or knows that such
20 acts will cause death to that individual or another; or
21 (2) he or she knows that such acts create a strong
22 probability of death or great bodily harm to that

HB2955- 32 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 individual or another; or
2 (3) he or she, acting alone or with one or more
3 participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible
4 felony other than second degree murder, and in the course
5 of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, he
6 or she or another participant causes the death of a
7 person.
8 (b) Aggravating Factors. A defendant who at the time of
9the commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or
10more and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may
11be sentenced to death if:
12 (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer or
13 fireman killed in the course of performing his or her
14 official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her
15 official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or
16 her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have
17 known that the murdered individual was a peace officer or
18 fireman; or
19 (1.5) the murdered individual was a firefighter killed
20 in the course of performing his or her official duties, to
21 prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or
22 in retaliation for performing his or her official duties,
23 and the defendant knew or should have known that the
24 murdered individual was a firefighter; or
25 (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an
26 institution or facility of the Department of Corrections,

HB2955- 33 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the
2 course of performing his or her official duties, to
3 prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or
4 in retaliation for performing his or her official duties,
5 or the murdered individual was an inmate at such
6 institution or facility and was killed on the grounds
7 thereof, or the murdered individual was otherwise present
8 in such institution or facility with the knowledge and
9 approval of the chief administrative officer thereof; or
10 (3) the defendant has been convicted of murdering two
11 or more individuals under subsection (a) of this Section
12 or under any law of the United States or of any state which
13 is substantially similar to subsection (a) of this Section
14 regardless of whether the deaths occurred as the result of
15 the same act or of several related or unrelated acts so
16 long as the deaths were the result of either an intent to
17 kill more than one person or of separate acts which the
18 defendant knew would cause death or create a strong
19 probability of death or great bodily harm to the murdered
20 individual or another; or
21 (4) the murdered individual was killed as a result of
22 the hijacking of an airplane, train, ship, bus, or other
23 public conveyance; or
24 (5) the defendant committed the murder pursuant to a
25 contract, agreement, or understanding by which he or she
26 was to receive money or anything of value in return for

HB2955- 34 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 committing the murder or procured another to commit the
2 murder for money or anything of value; or
3 (6) the murdered individual was killed in the course
4 of another felony if:
5 (a) the murdered individual:
6 (i) was actually killed by the defendant, or
7 (ii) received physical injuries personally
8 inflicted by the defendant substantially
9 contemporaneously with physical injuries caused by
10 one or more persons for whose conduct the
11 defendant is legally accountable under Section 5-2
12 of this Code, and the physical injuries inflicted
13 by either the defendant or the other person or
14 persons for whose conduct he is legally
15 accountable caused the death of the murdered
16 individual; and
17 (b) in performing the acts which caused the death
18 of the murdered individual or which resulted in
19 physical injuries personally inflicted by the
20 defendant on the murdered individual under the
21 circumstances of subdivision (ii) of subparagraph (a)
22 of paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of this Section,
23 the defendant acted with the intent to kill the
24 murdered individual or with the knowledge that his
25 acts created a strong probability of death or great
26 bodily harm to the murdered individual or another; and

HB2955- 35 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 (c) the other felony was an inherently violent
2 crime or the attempt to commit an inherently violent
3 crime. In this subparagraph (c), "inherently violent
4 crime" includes, but is not limited to, armed robbery,
5 robbery, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child,
6 aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated
7 kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated
8 arson, aggravated stalking, residential burglary, and
9 home invasion; or
10 (7) the murdered individual was under 12 years of age
11 and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or
12 heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
13 (8) the defendant committed the murder with intent to
14 prevent the murdered individual from testifying or
15 participating in any criminal investigation or prosecution
16 or giving material assistance to the State in any
17 investigation or prosecution, either against the defendant
18 or another; or the defendant committed the murder because
19 the murdered individual was a witness in any prosecution
20 or gave material assistance to the State in any
21 investigation or prosecution, either against the defendant
22 or another; for purposes of this paragraph (8),
23 "participating in any criminal investigation or
24 prosecution" is intended to include those appearing in the
25 proceedings in any capacity such as trial judges,
26 prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, witnesses,

HB2955- 36 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 or jurors; or
2 (9) the defendant, while committing an offense
3 punishable under Sections 401, 401.1, 401.2, 405, 405.2,
4 407 or 407.1 or subsection (b) of Section 404 of the
5 Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or while engaged in a
6 conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,
7 intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
8 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
9 killing of the murdered individual; or
10 (10) the defendant was incarcerated in an institution
11 or facility of the Department of Corrections at the time
12 of the murder, and while committing an offense punishable
13 as a felony under Illinois law, or while engaged in a
14 conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,
15 intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
16 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
17 killing of the murdered individual; or
18 (11) the murder was committed in a cold, calculated
19 and premeditated manner pursuant to a preconceived plan,
20 scheme or design to take a human life by unlawful means,
21 and the conduct of the defendant created a reasonable
22 expectation that the death of a human being would result
23 therefrom; or
24 (12) the murdered individual was an emergency medical
25 technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician -
26 intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic,

HB2955- 37 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid
2 personnel, employed by a municipality or other
3 governmental unit, killed in the course of performing his
4 official duties, to prevent the performance of his
5 official duties, or in retaliation for performing his
6 official duties, and the defendant knew or should have
7 known that the murdered individual was an emergency
8 medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical
9 technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician -
10 paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance
11 or first aid personnel; or
12 (13) the defendant was a principal administrator,
13 organizer, or leader of a calculated criminal drug
14 conspiracy consisting of a hierarchical position of
15 authority superior to that of all other members of the
16 conspiracy, and the defendant counseled, commanded,
17 induced, procured, or caused the intentional killing of
18 the murdered person; or
19 (14) the murder was intentional and involved the
20 infliction of torture. For the purpose of this Section
21 torture means the infliction of or subjection to extreme
22 physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or
23 prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the victim; or
24 (15) the murder was committed as a result of the
25 intentional discharge of a firearm by the defendant from a
26 motor vehicle and the victim was not present within the

HB2955- 38 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 motor vehicle; or
2 (16) the murdered individual was 60 years of age or
3 older and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or
4 heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
5 (17) the murdered individual was a person with a
6 disability and the defendant knew or should have known
7 that the murdered individual was a person with a
8 disability. For purposes of this paragraph (17), "person
9 with a disability" means a person who suffers from a
10 permanent physical or mental impairment resulting from
11 disease, an injury, a functional disorder, or a congenital
12 condition that renders the person incapable of adequately
13 providing for his or her own health or personal care; or
14 (18) the murder was committed by reason of any
15 person's activity as a community policing volunteer or to
16 prevent any person from engaging in activity as a
17 community policing volunteer; or
18 (19) the murdered individual was subject to an order
19 of protection and the murder was committed by a person
20 against whom the same order of protection was issued under
21 the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986; or
22 (20) the murdered individual was known by the
23 defendant to be a teacher or other person employed in any
24 school and the teacher or other employee is upon the
25 grounds of a school or grounds adjacent to a school, or is
26 in any part of a building used for school purposes; or

HB2955- 39 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 (21) the murder was committed by the defendant in
2 connection with or as a result of the offense of terrorism
3 as defined in Section 29D-14.9 of this Code; or
4 (22) the murdered individual was a member of a
5 congregation engaged in prayer or other religious
6 activities at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other
7 building, structure, or place used for religious worship.
8 (b-5) Aggravating Factor; Natural Life Imprisonment. A
9defendant who has been found guilty of first degree murder and
10who at the time of the commission of the offense had attained
11the age of 18 years or more may be sentenced to natural life
12imprisonment if (i) the murdered individual was a physician,
13physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
14registered nurse, (ii) the defendant knew or should have known
15that the murdered individual was a physician, physician
16assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
17registered nurse, and (iii) the murdered individual was killed
18in the course of acting in his or her capacity as a physician,
19physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
20registered nurse, or to prevent him or her from acting in that
21capacity, or in retaliation for his or her acting in that
22capacity.
23 (c) Consideration of factors in Aggravation and
24Mitigation.
25 The court shall consider, or shall instruct the jury to
26consider any aggravating and any mitigating factors which are

HB2955- 40 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1relevant to the imposition of the death penalty. Aggravating
2factors may include but need not be limited to those factors
3set forth in subsection (b). Mitigating factors may include
4but need not be limited to the following:
5 (1) the defendant has no significant history of prior
6 criminal activity;
7 (2) the murder was committed while the defendant was
8 under the influence of extreme mental or emotional
9 disturbance, although not such as to constitute a defense
10 to prosecution;
11 (3) the murdered individual was a participant in the
12 defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the
13 homicidal act;
14 (4) the defendant acted under the compulsion of threat
15 or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great
16 bodily harm;
17 (5) the defendant was not personally present during
18 commission of the act or acts causing death;
19 (6) the defendant's background includes a history of
20 extreme emotional or physical abuse;
21 (7) the defendant suffers from a reduced mental
22 capacity.
23 Provided, however, that an action that does not otherwise
24mitigate first degree murder cannot qualify as a mitigating
25factor for first degree murder because of the discovery,
26knowledge, or disclosure of the victim's sexual orientation as

HB2955- 41 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1defined in Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
2 (d) Separate sentencing hearing.
3 Where requested by the State, the court shall conduct a
4separate sentencing proceeding to determine the existence of
5factors set forth in subsection (b) and to consider any
6aggravating or mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
7(c). The proceeding shall be conducted:
8 (1) before the jury that determined the defendant's
9 guilt; or
10 (2) before a jury impanelled for the purpose of the
11 proceeding if:
12 A. the defendant was convicted upon a plea of
13 guilty; or
14 B. the defendant was convicted after a trial
15 before the court sitting without a jury; or
16 C. the court for good cause shown discharges the
17 jury that determined the defendant's guilt; or
18 (3) before the court alone if the defendant waives a
19 jury for the separate proceeding.
20 (e) Evidence and Argument.
21 During the proceeding any information relevant to any of
22the factors set forth in subsection (b) may be presented by
23either the State or the defendant under the rules governing
24the admission of evidence at criminal trials. Any information
25relevant to any additional aggravating factors or any
26mitigating factors indicated in subsection (c) may be

HB2955- 42 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1presented by the State or defendant regardless of its
2admissibility under the rules governing the admission of
3evidence at criminal trials. The State and the defendant shall
4be given fair opportunity to rebut any information received at
5the hearing.
6 (f) Proof.
7 The burden of proof of establishing the existence of any
8of the factors set forth in subsection (b) is on the State and
9shall not be satisfied unless established beyond a reasonable
10doubt.
11 (g) Procedure - Jury.
12 If at the separate sentencing proceeding the jury finds
13that none of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exists,
14the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
15imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
16Corrections. If there is a unanimous finding by the jury that
17one or more of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exist,
18the jury shall consider aggravating and mitigating factors as
19instructed by the court and shall determine whether the
20sentence of death shall be imposed. If the jury determines
21unanimously, after weighing the factors in aggravation and
22mitigation, that death is the appropriate sentence, the court
23shall sentence the defendant to death. If the court does not
24concur with the jury determination that death is the
25appropriate sentence, the court shall set forth reasons in
26writing including what facts or circumstances the court relied

HB2955- 43 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1upon, along with any relevant documents, that compelled the
2court to non-concur with the sentence. This document and any
3attachments shall be part of the record for appellate review.
4The court shall be bound by the jury's sentencing
5determination.
6 If after weighing the factors in aggravation and
7mitigation, one or more jurors determines that death is not
8the appropriate sentence, the court shall sentence the
9defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
10Unified Code of Corrections.
11 (h) Procedure - No Jury.
12 In a proceeding before the court alone, if the court finds
13that none of the factors found in subsection (b) exists, the
14court shall sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment
15under Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections.
16 If the Court determines that one or more of the factors set
17forth in subsection (b) exists, the Court shall consider any
18aggravating and mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
19(c). If the Court determines, after weighing the factors in
20aggravation and mitigation, that death is the appropriate
21sentence, the Court shall sentence the defendant to death.
22 If the court finds that death is not the appropriate
23sentence, the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
24imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
25Corrections.
26 (h-5) Decertification as a capital case.

HB2955- 44 -LRB103 25549 RLC 51898 b
1 In a case in which the defendant has been found guilty of
2first degree murder by a judge or jury, or a case on remand for
3resentencing, and the State seeks the death penalty as an
4appropriate sentence, on the court's own motion or the written
5motion of the defendant, the court may decertify the case as a
6death penalty case if the court finds that the only evidence
7supporting the defendant's conviction is the uncorroborated
8testimony of an informant witness, as defined in Section
9115-21 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, concerning
10the confession or admission of the defendant or that the sole
11evidence against the defendant is a single eyewitness or
12single accomplice without any other corroborating evidence. If
13the court decertifies the case as a capital case under either
14of the grounds set forth above, the court shall issue a written
15finding. The State may pursue its right to appeal the
16decertification pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1). If
17the court does not decertify the case as a capital case, the
18matter shall proceed to the eligibility phase of the
19sentencing hearing.
20 (i) Appellate Procedure.
21 The conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to
22automatic review by the Supreme Court. Such review shall be in
23accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. The
24Illinois Supreme Court may overturn the death sentence, and
25order the imposition of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
26Unified Code of Corrections if the court finds that the death

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1sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
2case. If the Illinois Supreme Court finds that the death
3sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
4case, independent of any procedural grounds for relief, the
5Illinois Supreme Court shall issue a written opinion
6explaining this finding.
7 (j) Disposition of reversed death sentence.
8 In the event that the death penalty in this Act is held to
9be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States
10or of the State of Illinois, any person convicted of first
11degree murder shall be sentenced by the court to a term of
12imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
13Corrections.
14 In the event that any death sentence pursuant to the
15sentencing provisions of this Section is declared
16unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States or
17of the State of Illinois, the court having jurisdiction over a
18person previously sentenced to death shall cause the defendant
19to be brought before the court, and the court shall sentence
20the defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
21Unified Code of Corrections.
22 (k) Guidelines for seeking the death penalty.
23 The Attorney General and State's Attorneys Association
24shall consult on voluntary guidelines for procedures governing
25whether or not to seek the death penalty. The guidelines do not
26have the force of law and are only advisory in nature.

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1(Source: P.A. 100-460, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18;
2100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-223, eff. 1-1-20; 101-652, eff.
37-1-21.)
4 Section 115. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
5amended by changing Sections 113-3 and 119-1 as follows:
6 (725 ILCS 5/113-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 113-3)
7 Sec. 113-3. (a) Every person charged with an offense shall
8be allowed counsel before pleading to the charge. If the
9defendant desires counsel and has been unable to obtain same
10before arraignment the court shall recess court or continue
11the cause for a reasonable time to permit defendant to obtain
12counsel and consult with him before pleading to the charge. If
13the accused is a dissolved corporation, and is not represented
14by counsel, the court may, in the interest of justice, appoint
15as counsel a licensed attorney of this State.
16 (b) In all cases, except where the penalty is a fine only,
17if the court determines that the defendant is indigent and
18desires counsel, the Public Defender shall be appointed as
19counsel. If there is no Public Defender in the county or if the
20defendant requests counsel other than the Public Defender and
21the court finds that the rights of the defendant will be
22prejudiced by the appointment of the Public Defender, the
23court shall appoint as counsel a licensed attorney at law of
24this State, except that in a county having a population of

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12,000,000 or more the Public Defender shall be appointed as
2counsel in all misdemeanor cases where the defendant is
3indigent and desires counsel unless the case involves multiple
4defendants, in which case the court may appoint counsel other
5than the Public Defender for the additional defendants. The
6court shall require an affidavit signed by any defendant who
7requests court-appointed counsel. Such affidavit shall be in
8the form established by the Supreme Court containing
9sufficient information to ascertain the assets and liabilities
10of that defendant. The Court may direct the Clerk of the
11Circuit Court to assist the defendant in the completion of the
12affidavit. Any person who knowingly files such affidavit
13containing false information concerning his assets and
14liabilities shall be liable to the county where the case, in
15which such false affidavit is filed, is pending for the
16reasonable value of the services rendered by the public
17defender or other court-appointed counsel in the case to the
18extent that such services were unjustly or falsely procured.
19 (c) Upon the filing with the court of a verified statement
20of services rendered the court shall order the county
21treasurer of the county of trial to pay counsel other than the
22Public Defender a reasonable fee. The court shall consider all
23relevant circumstances, including but not limited to the time
24spent while court is in session, other time spent in
25representing the defendant, and expenses reasonably incurred
26by counsel. In counties with a population greater than

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

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1court may, upon the filing with the court of a verified
2statement of such expenses, order the county treasurer of the
3county of trial, in such counties having a population greater
4than 2,000,000 to pay the general expenses of the trial
5incurred by the defendant not to exceed $50 for each
6defendant.
7 (f) The provisions of this Section relating to appointment
8of counsel, compensation of counsel, and payment of expenses
9in capital cases apply except when the compensation and
10expenses are being provided under the Capital Crimes
11Litigation Act of 2023.
12(Source: P.A. 91-589, eff. 1-1-00.)
13 (725 ILCS 5/119-1)
14 Sec. 119-1. Death penalty abolished; partially restored.
15 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Section,
16beginning on July 1, 2011 (the effective date of Public Act
1796-1543) and Beginning on the effective date of this
18amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, notwithstanding
19any other law to the contrary, the death penalty is abolished
20and a sentence to death may not be imposed.
21 (a-5) Notwithstanding subsection (a), a defendant who at
22the time of the commission of the offense has attained the age
23of 18 or more years and who has been found guilty of first
24degree murder under paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Section
259-1 of the Criminal Code of 2012 may be sentenced to death.

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1 (b) All unobligated and unexpended moneys remaining in the
2Capital Litigation Trust Fund on the effective date of this
3amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be
4transferred into the Death Penalty Abolition Fund on the
5effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
6Assembly shall be transferred into the Capital Litigation
7Trust Fund, together with any moneys the Death Penalty
8Abolition Fund may receive thereafter , a special fund in the
9State treasury, to be expended by the Illinois Criminal
10Justice Information Authority, for services for families of
11victims of homicide or murder and for training of law
12enforcement personnel.
13(Source: P.A. 96-1543, eff. 7-1-11.)
14 Section 120. The State Appellate Defender Act is amended
15by changing Section 10 as follows:
16 (725 ILCS 105/10) (from Ch. 38, par. 208-10)
17 Sec. 10. Powers and duties of State Appellate Defender.
18 (a) The State Appellate Defender shall represent indigent
19persons on appeal in criminal and delinquent minor
20proceedings, when appointed to do so by a court under a Supreme
21Court Rule or law of this State.
22 (b) The State Appellate Defender shall submit a budget for
23the approval of the State Appellate Defender Commission.
24 (c) The State Appellate Defender may:

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1 (1) maintain a panel of private attorneys available to
2 serve as counsel on a case basis;
3 (2) establish programs, alone or in conjunction with
4 law schools, for the purpose of utilizing volunteer law
5 students as legal assistants;
6 (3) cooperate and consult with state agencies,
7 professional associations, and other groups concerning the
8 causes of criminal conduct, the rehabilitation and
9 correction of persons charged with and convicted of crime,
10 the administration of criminal justice, and, in counties
11 of less than 1,000,000 population, study, design, develop
12 and implement model systems for the delivery of trial
13 level defender services, and make an annual report to the
14 General Assembly;
15 (4) hire investigators to provide investigative
16 services to appointed counsel and county public defenders;
17 (5) (blank);
18 (5.1) in cases in which a death sentence is an
19 authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with legal
20 assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses,
21 investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds
22 appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically
23 for that purpose by the General Assembly. The Office of
24 State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve
25 as trial counsel in capital cases;
26 (5.5) provide training to county public defenders;

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1 (5.7) provide county public defenders with the
2 assistance of expert witnesses and investigators from
3 funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender
4 specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. The
5 Office of the State Appellate Defender shall not be
6 appointed to act as trial counsel;
7 (6) develop a Juvenile Defender Resource Center to:
8 (i) study, design, develop, and implement model systems
9 for the delivery of trial level defender services for
10 juveniles in the justice system; (ii) in cases in which a
11 sentence of incarceration or an adult sentence, or both,
12 is an authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with
13 legal advice and the assistance of expert witnesses and
14 investigators from funds appropriated to the Office of the
15 State Appellate Defender by the General Assembly
16 specifically for that purpose; (iii) develop and provide
17 training to public defenders on juvenile justice issues,
18 utilizing resources including the State and local bar
19 associations, the Illinois Public Defender Association,
20 law schools, the Midwest Juvenile Defender Center, and pro
21 bono efforts by law firms; and (iv) make an annual report
22 to the General Assembly.
23 Investigators employed by the Capital Trial Assistance
24Unit and Capital Post Conviction Unit of the State Appellate
25Defender shall be authorized to inquire through the Illinois
26State Police or local law enforcement with the Law Enforcement

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1Agencies Data System (LEADS) under Section 2605-375 of the
2Department of State Police Law of the Civil Administrative
3Code of Illinois to ascertain whether their potential
4witnesses have a criminal background, including, but not
5limited to: (i) warrants; (ii) arrests; (iii) convictions; and
6(iv) officer safety information. This authorization applies
7only to information held on the State level and shall be used
8only to protect the personal safety of the investigators. Any
9information that is obtained through this inquiry may not be
10disclosed by the investigators.
11 (c-5) For each State fiscal year, the State Appellate
12Defender shall request a direct appropriation from the Capital
13Litigation Trust Fund for expenses incurred by the State
14Appellate Defender in providing assistance to trial attorneys
15under paragraph (5.1) of subsection (c) of this Section and
16for expenses incurred by the State Appellate Defender in
17representing petitioners in capital cases in post-conviction
18proceedings under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal
19Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under
20Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to
21capital cases and for the representation of those petitioners
22by attorneys approved by or contracted with the State
23Appellate Defender and an appropriation to the State Treasurer
24for payments from the Trust Fund for the defense of cases in
25counties other than Cook County. The State Appellate Defender
26may appear before the General Assembly at other times during

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1the State's fiscal year to request supplemental appropriations
2from the Trust Fund to the State Treasurer.
3 (d) (Blank).
4 (e) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
5shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required
6by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and
7filing such additional copies with the State Government Report
8Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required
9under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
10(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)
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