Bill Text: IL HB4251 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Amends the Descent and Distribution Article of the Probate Act of 1975. Creates Pam's Law. Provides that a person who intentionally and unjustifiably causes the death of another is disqualified from being: (1) a personal representative of the decedent; (2) the executor or administrator of the decedent's estate; and (3) the person who has the right to determine the method for disposing of the body. Provides that in any case in which a preponderance of the evidence shows that the surviving spouse or next of kin caused the death of another, the court may disqualify the spouse or next of kin on an interim basis and appoint a special administrator for the limited purpose of investigating, presenting, and proving a claim. Provides that the Act applies retroactively to any death caused by intentional and unjustifiable means that is still subject to prosecution under any applicable criminal statute of limitations.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-06-23 - Rule 19(b) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB4251 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2019-HB4251-Introduced.html
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1 | AN ACT concerning civil law.
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2 | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
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3 | represented in the General Assembly:
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4 | Section 5. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by adding | |||||||||||||||||||
5 | Section 2-6.1 as follows:
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6 | (755 ILCS 5/2-6.1 new) | |||||||||||||||||||
7 | Sec. 2-6.1. Person causing death; additional | |||||||||||||||||||
8 | disqualifications. | |||||||||||||||||||
9 | (a) A person who intentionally and unjustifiably causes the | |||||||||||||||||||
10 | death of another is disqualified from being: | |||||||||||||||||||
11 | (1) a personal representative of the decedent under | |||||||||||||||||||
12 | subsection (a) of Section 2 of the Wrongful Death Act; | |||||||||||||||||||
13 | (2) the executor or administrator of the decedent's | |||||||||||||||||||
14 | estate under Section 28-2 of this Act; and | |||||||||||||||||||
15 | (3) a person who has the right to determine the method | |||||||||||||||||||
16 | for disposing of the body of a decedent under subsection | |||||||||||||||||||
17 | (b) of Section 2 of the Autopsy Act. | |||||||||||||||||||
18 | A person intentionally and unjustifiably causes the death | |||||||||||||||||||
19 | of another when the person is: (i) convicted of a crime under | |||||||||||||||||||
20 | subsection (e) of Section 2 of the Wrongful Death Act; or (ii) | |||||||||||||||||||
21 | proven by clear and convincing evidence in a probate proceeding | |||||||||||||||||||
22 | to have intentionally and unjustifiably caused the decedent's | |||||||||||||||||||
23 | death. |
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1 | (b) In any case in which a claimant proves by a | ||||||
2 | preponderance of the evidence to a court of competent | ||||||
3 | jurisdiction that the surviving spouse or next of kin caused | ||||||
4 | the death of another, the court may disqualify the spouse or | ||||||
5 | next of kin on an interim basis and appoint a special | ||||||
6 | administrator for the limited purpose of investigating, | ||||||
7 | presenting, and proving a claim under this Section. | ||||||
8 | (c) The court shall establish all procedures necessary to | ||||||
9 | permit and effectuate the bringing of claims under subsections | ||||||
10 | (a) and (b). | ||||||
11 | (d) This Section applies retroactively to any death caused | ||||||
12 | by intentional and unjustifiable means that is still subject to | ||||||
13 | prosecution under any applicable criminal statute of | ||||||
14 | limitations. | ||||||
15 | (e) This Section may be referred to as Pam's Law.
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