Bill Text: IL SB2151 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Creates the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides that if an indigent defendant is charged with an offense for which a sentence of death is authorized, and the State's Attorney has not, at or before arraignment, filed a certificate indicating he or she will not seek the death penalty or stated on the record in open court that the death penalty will not be sought, the trial court shall appoint the Public Defender or another qualified attorney to represent the defendant. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used exclusively to provide funding for the prosecution and defense of capital cases and post-conviction proceedings. Amends the State Finance Act. Repeals the Death Penalty Abolition Fund and reinstates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Reinstates the death penalty if: (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer, fireman, emergency medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid personnel, employed by a municipality or other governmental unit killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have known the status of the murdered individual; (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an institution or facility of the Department of Corrections, or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties; or (3) the murdered individual was an investigator or caseworker with the Adult Protective Services Program or an ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, an investigator or employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, or a special agent with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission or the Department of Revenue. Amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and the State Appellate Defender Act to make conforming changes.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-02-10 - Referred to Assignments [SB2151 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SB2151-Introduced.html


103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2151

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Chapin Rose

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
See Index

Creates the Capital Crimes Litigation Act of 2023. Provides that if an indigent defendant is charged with an offense for which a sentence of death is authorized, and the State's Attorney has not, at or before arraignment, filed a certificate indicating he or she will not seek the death penalty or stated on the record in open court that the death penalty will not be sought, the trial court shall appoint the Public Defender or another qualified attorney to represent the defendant. Creates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Provides that moneys deposited into the Fund shall be used exclusively to provide funding for the prosecution and defense of capital cases and post-conviction proceedings. Amends the State Finance Act. Repeals the Death Penalty Abolition Fund and reinstates the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Reinstates the death penalty if: (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer, fireman, emergency medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid personnel, employed by a municipality or other governmental unit killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have known the status of the murdered individual; (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an institution or facility of the Department of Corrections, or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the course of performing his or her official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or her official duties; or (3) the murdered individual was an investigator or caseworker with the Adult Protective Services Program or an ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of the Department on Aging, an investigator or employee of the Department of Children and Family Services, or a special agent with the Illinois Liquor Control Commission or the Department of Revenue. Amends the Freedom of Information Act, the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, and the State Appellate Defender Act to make conforming changes.
LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b

A BILL FOR

SB2151LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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

SB2151- 4 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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

SB2151- 9 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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
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

SB2151- 11 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
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

SB2151- 19 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
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

SB2151- 20 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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

SB2151- 21 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
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 90. The Freedom of Information Act is amended by
25changing Section 7.5 as follows:

SB2151- 22 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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

SB2151- 23 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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.

SB2151- 24 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 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 or the Capital Crimes
9 Litigation Act of 2023. This subsection (n) shall apply
10 until the conclusion of the trial of the case, even if the
11 prosecution chooses not to pursue the death penalty prior
12 to trial or sentencing.
13 (o) Information that is prohibited from being
14 disclosed under Section 4 of the Illinois Health and
15 Hazardous Substances Registry Act.
16 (p) Security portions of system safety program plans,
17 investigation reports, surveys, schedules, lists, data, or
18 information compiled, collected, or prepared by or for the
19 Department of Transportation under Sections 2705-300 and
20 2705-616 of the Department of Transportation Law of the
21 Civil Administrative Code of Illinois, the Regional
22 Transportation Authority under Section 2.11 of the
23 Regional Transportation Authority Act, or the St. Clair
24 County Transit District under the Bi-State Transit Safety
25 Act.
26 (q) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the

SB2151- 25 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Personnel Record Review Act.
2 (r) Information prohibited from being disclosed by the
3 Illinois School Student Records Act.
4 (s) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
5 under Section 5-108 of the Public Utilities Act.
6 (t) All identified or deidentified health information
7 in the form of health data or medical records contained
8 in, stored in, submitted to, transferred by, or released
9 from the Illinois Health Information Exchange, and
10 identified or deidentified health information in the form
11 of health data and medical records of the Illinois Health
12 Information Exchange in the possession of the Illinois
13 Health Information Exchange Office due to its
14 administration of the Illinois Health Information
15 Exchange. The terms "identified" and "deidentified" shall
16 be given the same meaning as in the Health Insurance
17 Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Public Law
18 104-191, or any subsequent amendments thereto, and any
19 regulations promulgated thereunder.
20 (u) Records and information provided to an independent
21 team of experts under the Developmental Disability and
22 Mental Health Safety Act (also known as Brian's Law).
23 (v) Names and information of people who have applied
24 for or received Firearm Owner's Identification Cards under
25 the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act or applied for
26 or received a concealed carry license under the Firearm

SB2151- 26 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Concealed Carry Act, unless otherwise authorized by the
2 Firearm Concealed Carry Act; and databases under the
3 Firearm Concealed Carry Act, records of the Concealed
4 Carry Licensing Review Board under the Firearm Concealed
5 Carry Act, and law enforcement agency objections under the
6 Firearm Concealed Carry Act.
7 (v-5) Records of the Firearm Owner's Identification
8 Card Review Board that are exempted from disclosure under
9 Section 10 of the Firearm Owners Identification Card Act.
10 (w) Personally identifiable information which is
11 exempted from disclosure under subsection (g) of Section
12 19.1 of the Toll Highway Act.
13 (x) Information which is exempted from disclosure
14 under Section 5-1014.3 of the Counties Code or Section
15 8-11-21 of the Illinois Municipal Code.
16 (y) Confidential information under the Adult
17 Protective Services Act and its predecessor enabling
18 statute, the Elder Abuse and Neglect Act, including
19 information about the identity and administrative finding
20 against any caregiver of a verified and substantiated
21 decision of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of
22 an eligible adult maintained in the Registry established
23 under Section 7.5 of the Adult Protective Services Act.
24 (z) Records and information provided to a fatality
25 review team or the Illinois Fatality Review Team Advisory
26 Council under Section 15 of the Adult Protective Services

SB2151- 27 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Act.
2 (aa) Information which is exempted from disclosure
3 under Section 2.37 of the Wildlife Code.
4 (bb) Information which is or was prohibited from
5 disclosure by the Juvenile Court Act of 1987.
6 (cc) Recordings made under the Law Enforcement
7 Officer-Worn Body Camera Act, except to the extent
8 authorized under that Act.
9 (dd) Information that is prohibited from being
10 disclosed under Section 45 of the Condominium and Common
11 Interest Community Ombudsperson Act.
12 (ee) Information that is exempted from disclosure
13 under Section 30.1 of the Pharmacy Practice Act.
14 (ff) Information that is exempted from disclosure
15 under the Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act.
16 (gg) Information that is prohibited from being
17 disclosed under Section 7-603.5 of the Illinois Vehicle
18 Code.
19 (hh) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
20 Section 1A-16.7 of the Election Code.
21 (ii) Information which is exempted from disclosure
22 under Section 2505-800 of the Department of Revenue Law of
23 the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois.
24 (jj) Information and reports that are required to be
25 submitted to the Department of Labor by registering day
26 and temporary labor service agencies but are exempt from

SB2151- 28 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 disclosure under subsection (a-1) of Section 45 of the Day
2 and Temporary Labor Services Act.
3 (kk) Information prohibited from disclosure under the
4 Seizure and Forfeiture Reporting Act.
5 (ll) Information the disclosure of which is restricted
6 and exempted under Section 5-30.8 of the Illinois Public
7 Aid Code.
8 (mm) Records that are exempt from disclosure under
9 Section 4.2 of the Crime Victims Compensation Act.
10 (nn) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
11 Section 70 of the Higher Education Student Assistance Act.
12 (oo) Communications, notes, records, and reports
13 arising out of a peer support counseling session
14 prohibited from disclosure under the First Responders
15 Suicide Prevention Act.
16 (pp) Names and all identifying information relating to
17 an employee of an emergency services provider or law
18 enforcement agency under the First Responders Suicide
19 Prevention Act.
20 (qq) Information and records held by the Department of
21 Public Health and its authorized representatives collected
22 under the Reproductive Health Act.
23 (rr) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
24 the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act.
25 (ss) Data reported by an employer to the Department of
26 Human Rights pursuant to Section 2-108 of the Illinois

SB2151- 29 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Human Rights Act.
2 (tt) Recordings made under the Children's Advocacy
3 Center Act, except to the extent authorized under that
4 Act.
5 (uu) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
6 Section 50 of the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act.
7 (vv) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
8 subsections (f) and (j) of Section 5-36 of the Illinois
9 Public Aid Code.
10 (ww) Information that is exempt from disclosure under
11 Section 16.8 of the State Treasurer Act.
12 (xx) Information that is exempt from disclosure or
13 information that shall not be made public under the
14 Illinois Insurance Code.
15 (yy) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
16 the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act.
17 (zz) Information prohibited from being disclosed under
18 the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act.
19 (aaa) Information prohibited from being disclosed
20 under Section 1-167 of the Illinois Pension Code.
21 (bbb) Information that is prohibited from disclosure
22 by the Illinois Police Training Act and the Illinois State
23 Police Act.
24 (ccc) Records exempt from disclosure under Section
25 2605-304 of the Illinois State Police Law of the Civil
26 Administrative Code of Illinois.

SB2151- 30 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 (ddd) Information prohibited from being disclosed
2 under Section 35 of the Address Confidentiality for
3 Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Human
4 Trafficking, or Stalking Act.
5 (eee) Information prohibited from being disclosed
6 under subsection (b) of Section 75 of the Domestic
7 Violence Fatality Review Act.
8 (fff) Images from cameras under the Expressway Camera
9 Act. This subsection (fff) is inoperative on and after
10 July 1, 2023.
11 (ggg) Information prohibited from disclosure under
12 paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of Section 14 of the Nurse
13 Agency Licensing Act.
14 (hhh) Information submitted to the Department of State
15 Police in an affidavit or application for an assault
16 weapon endorsement, assault weapon attachment endorsement,
17 .50 caliber rifle endorsement, or .50 caliber cartridge
18 endorsement under the Firearm Owners Identification Card
19 Act.
20(Source: P.A. 101-13, eff. 6-12-19; 101-27, eff. 6-25-19;
21101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 101-221, eff. 1-1-20; 101-236, eff.
221-1-20; 101-375, eff. 8-16-19; 101-377, eff. 8-16-19; 101-452,
23eff. 1-1-20; 101-466, eff. 1-1-20; 101-600, eff. 12-6-19;
24101-620, eff 12-20-19; 101-649, eff. 7-7-20; 101-652, eff.
251-1-22; 101-656, eff. 3-23-21; 102-36, eff. 6-25-21; 102-237,
26eff. 1-1-22; 102-292, eff. 1-1-22; 102-520, eff. 8-20-21;

SB2151- 31 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1102-559, eff. 8-20-21; 102-813, eff. 5-13-22; 102-946, eff.
27-1-22; 102-1042, eff. 6-3-22; 102-1116, eff. 1-10-23.)
3 Section 95. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
4Section 5.990 as follows:
5 (30 ILCS 105/5.990 new)
6 Sec. 5.990. The Capital Litigation Trust Fund.
7 (30 ILCS 105/5.790 rep.)
8 Section 105. The State Finance Act is amended by repealing
9Section 5.790.
10 Section 110. The Criminal Code of 2012 is amended by
11changing Section 9-1 as follows:
12 (720 ILCS 5/9-1) (from Ch. 38, par. 9-1)
13 Sec. 9-1. First degree murder; death penalties;
14exceptions; separate hearings; proof; findings; appellate
15procedures; reversals.
16 (a) A person who kills an individual without lawful
17justification commits first degree murder if, in performing
18the acts which cause the death:
19 (1) he or she either intends to kill or do great bodily
20 harm to that individual or another, or knows that such
21 acts will cause death to that individual or another; or

SB2151- 32 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 (2) he or she knows that such acts create a strong
2 probability of death or great bodily harm to that
3 individual or another; or
4 (3) he or she, acting alone or with one or more
5 participants, commits or attempts to commit a forcible
6 felony other than second degree murder, and in the course
7 of or in furtherance of such crime or flight therefrom, he
8 or she or another participant causes the death of a
9 person.
10 (b) Aggravating Factors. A defendant who at the time of
11the commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or
12more and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may
13be sentenced to death if:
14 (1) the murdered individual was a peace officer or
15 fireman killed in the course of performing his or her
16 official duties, to prevent the performance of his or her
17 official duties, or in retaliation for performing his or
18 her official duties, and the defendant knew or should have
19 known that the murdered individual was a peace officer or
20 fireman; or
21 (2) the murdered individual was an employee of an
22 institution or facility of the Department of Corrections,
23 or any similar local correctional agency, killed in the
24 course of performing his or her official duties, to
25 prevent the performance of his or her official duties, or
26 in retaliation for performing his or her official duties,

SB2151- 33 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 or the murdered individual was an inmate at such
2 institution or facility and was killed on the grounds
3 thereof, or the murdered individual was otherwise present
4 in such institution or facility with the knowledge and
5 approval of the chief administrative officer thereof; or
6 (3) (blank) the defendant has been convicted of
7 murdering two or more individuals under subsection (a) of
8 this Section or under any law of the United States or of
9 any state which is substantially similar to subsection (a)
10 of this Section regardless of whether the deaths occurred
11 as the result of the same act or of several related or
12 unrelated acts so long as the deaths were the result of
13 either an intent to kill more than one person or of
14 separate acts which the defendant knew would cause death
15 or create a strong probability of death or great bodily
16 harm to the murdered individual or another; or
17 (4) (blank) the murdered individual was killed as a
18 result of the hijacking of an airplane, train, ship, bus,
19 or other public conveyance; or
20 (5) (blank) the defendant committed the murder
21 pursuant to a contract, agreement, or understanding by
22 which he or she was to receive money or anything of value
23 in return for committing the murder or procured another to
24 commit the murder for money or anything of value; or
25 (6) (blank) the murdered individual was killed in the
26 course of another felony if:

SB2151- 34 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 (a) the murdered individual:
2 (i) was actually killed by the defendant, or
3 (ii) received physical injuries personally
4 inflicted by the defendant substantially
5 contemporaneously with physical injuries caused by
6 one or more persons for whose conduct the
7 defendant is legally accountable under Section 5-2
8 of this Code, and the physical injuries inflicted
9 by either the defendant or the other person or
10 persons for whose conduct he is legally
11 accountable caused the death of the murdered
12 individual; and
13 (b) in performing the acts which caused the death
14 of the murdered individual or which resulted in
15 physical injuries personally inflicted by the
16 defendant on the murdered individual under the
17 circumstances of subdivision (ii) of subparagraph (a)
18 of paragraph (6) of subsection (b) of this Section,
19 the defendant acted with the intent to kill the
20 murdered individual or with the knowledge that his
21 acts created a strong probability of death or great
22 bodily harm to the murdered individual or another; and
23 (c) the other felony was an inherently violent
24 crime or the attempt to commit an inherently violent
25 crime. In this subparagraph (c), "inherently violent
26 crime" includes, but is not limited to, armed robbery,

SB2151- 35 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 robbery, predatory criminal sexual assault of a child,
2 aggravated criminal sexual assault, aggravated
3 kidnapping, aggravated vehicular hijacking, aggravated
4 arson, aggravated stalking, residential burglary, and
5 home invasion; or
6 (7) (blank) the murdered individual was under 12 years
7 of age and the death resulted from exceptionally brutal or
8 heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty; or
9 (8) (blank) the defendant committed the murder with
10 intent to prevent the murdered individual from testifying
11 or participating in any criminal investigation or
12 prosecution or giving material assistance to the State in
13 any investigation or prosecution, either against the
14 defendant or another; or the defendant committed the
15 murder because the murdered individual was a witness in
16 any prosecution or gave material assistance to the State
17 in any investigation or prosecution, either against the
18 defendant or another; for purposes of this paragraph (8),
19 "participating in any criminal investigation or
20 prosecution" is intended to include those appearing in the
21 proceedings in any capacity such as trial judges,
22 prosecutors, defense attorneys, investigators, witnesses,
23 or jurors; or
24 (9) (blank) the defendant, while committing an offense
25 punishable under Sections 401, 401.1, 401.2, 405, 405.2,
26 407 or 407.1 or subsection (b) of Section 404 of the

SB2151- 36 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Illinois Controlled Substances Act, or while engaged in a
2 conspiracy or solicitation to commit such offense,
3 intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
4 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
5 killing of the murdered individual; or
6 (10) (blank) the defendant was incarcerated in an
7 institution or facility of the Department of Corrections
8 at the time of the murder, and while committing an offense
9 punishable as a felony under Illinois law, or while
10 engaged in a conspiracy or solicitation to commit such
11 offense, intentionally killed an individual or counseled,
12 commanded, induced, procured or caused the intentional
13 killing of the murdered individual; or
14 (11) (blank) the murder was committed in a cold,
15 calculated and premeditated manner pursuant to a
16 preconceived plan, scheme or design to take a human life
17 by unlawful means, and the conduct of the defendant
18 created a reasonable expectation that the death of a human
19 being would result therefrom; or
20 (12) the murdered individual was an emergency medical
21 technician - ambulance, emergency medical technician -
22 intermediate, emergency medical technician - paramedic,
23 ambulance driver, or other medical assistance or first aid
24 personnel, employed by a municipality or other
25 governmental unit, killed in the course of performing his
26 official duties, to prevent the performance of his

SB2151- 37 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 official duties, or in retaliation for performing his
2 official duties, and the defendant knew or should have
3 known that the murdered individual was an emergency
4 medical technician - ambulance, emergency medical
5 technician - intermediate, emergency medical technician -
6 paramedic, ambulance driver, or other medical assistance
7 or first aid personnel; or
8 (13) (blank) the defendant was a principal
9 administrator, organizer, or leader of a calculated
10 criminal drug conspiracy consisting of a hierarchical
11 position of authority superior to that of all other
12 members of the conspiracy, and the defendant counseled,
13 commanded, induced, procured, or caused the intentional
14 killing of the murdered person; or
15 (14) (blank) the murder was intentional and involved
16 the infliction of torture. For the purpose of this Section
17 torture means the infliction of or subjection to extreme
18 physical pain, motivated by an intent to increase or
19 prolong the pain, suffering or agony of the victim; or
20 (15) (blank) the murder was committed as a result of
21 the intentional discharge of a firearm by the defendant
22 from a motor vehicle and the victim was not present within
23 the motor vehicle; or
24 (16) (blank) the murdered individual was 60 years of
25 age or older and the death resulted from exceptionally
26 brutal or heinous behavior indicative of wanton cruelty;

SB2151- 38 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 or
2 (17) (blank) the murdered individual was a person with
3 a disability and the defendant knew or should have known
4 that the murdered individual was a person with a
5 disability. For purposes of this paragraph (17), "person
6 with a disability" means a person who suffers from a
7 permanent physical or mental impairment resulting from
8 disease, an injury, a functional disorder, or a congenital
9 condition that renders the person incapable of adequately
10 providing for his or her own health or personal care; or
11 (18) (blank) the murder was committed by reason of any
12 person's activity as a community policing volunteer or to
13 prevent any person from engaging in activity as a
14 community policing volunteer; or
15 (19) (blank) the murdered individual was subject to an
16 order of protection and the murder was committed by a
17 person against whom the same order of protection was
18 issued under the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986;
19 or
20 (20) (blank) the murdered individual was known by the
21 defendant to be a teacher or other person employed in any
22 school and the teacher or other employee is upon the
23 grounds of a school or grounds adjacent to a school, or is
24 in any part of a building used for school purposes; or
25 (21) (blank) the murder was committed by the defendant
26 in connection with or as a result of the offense of

SB2151- 39 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 terrorism as defined in Section 29D-14.9 of this Code; or
2 (22) (blank); or the murdered individual was a member
3 of a 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 (23) the murdered individual was an investigator or
7 caseworker with the Adult Protective Services Program or
8 an ombudsman under the State Long Term Care Ombudsman
9 Program of the Department on Aging, an investigator or
10 employee of the Department of Children and Family
11 Services, a special agent with the Illinois Liquor Control
12 Commission or the Department of Revenue.
13 (b-5) Aggravating Factor; Natural Life Imprisonment. A
14defendant who has been found guilty of first degree murder and
15who at the time of the commission of the offense had attained
16the age of 18 years or more may be sentenced to natural life
17imprisonment if (i) the murdered individual was a physician,
18physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
19registered nurse, (ii) the defendant knew or should have known
20that the murdered individual was a physician, physician
21assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
22registered nurse, and (iii) the murdered individual was killed
23in the course of acting in his or her capacity as a physician,
24physician assistant, psychologist, nurse, or advanced practice
25registered nurse, or to prevent him or her from acting in that
26capacity, or in retaliation for his or her acting in that

SB2151- 40 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1capacity.
2 (c) Consideration of factors in Aggravation and
3Mitigation.
4 The court shall consider, or shall instruct the jury to
5consider any aggravating and any mitigating factors which are
6relevant to the imposition of the death penalty. Aggravating
7factors may include but need not be limited to those factors
8set forth in subsection (b). Mitigating factors may include
9but need not be limited to the following:
10 (1) the defendant has no significant history of prior
11 criminal activity;
12 (2) the murder was committed while the defendant was
13 under the influence of extreme mental or emotional
14 disturbance, although not such as to constitute a defense
15 to prosecution;
16 (3) the murdered individual was a participant in the
17 defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the
18 homicidal act;
19 (4) the defendant acted under the compulsion of threat
20 or menace of the imminent infliction of death or great
21 bodily harm;
22 (5) the defendant was not personally present during
23 commission of the act or acts causing death;
24 (6) the defendant's background includes a history of
25 extreme emotional or physical abuse;
26 (7) the defendant suffers from a reduced mental

SB2151- 41 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 capacity.
2 Provided, however, that an action that does not otherwise
3mitigate first degree murder cannot qualify as a mitigating
4factor for first degree murder because of the discovery,
5knowledge, or disclosure of the victim's sexual orientation as
6defined in Section 1-103 of the Illinois Human Rights Act.
7 (d) Separate sentencing hearing.
8 Where requested by the State, the court shall conduct a
9separate sentencing proceeding to determine the existence of
10factors set forth in subsection (b) and to consider any
11aggravating or mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
12(c). The proceeding shall be conducted:
13 (1) before the jury that determined the defendant's
14 guilt; or
15 (2) before a jury impanelled for the purpose of the
16 proceeding if:
17 A. the defendant was convicted upon a plea of
18 guilty; or
19 B. the defendant was convicted after a trial
20 before the court sitting without a jury; or
21 C. the court for good cause shown discharges the
22 jury that determined the defendant's guilt; or
23 (3) before the court alone if the defendant waives a
24 jury for the separate proceeding.
25 (e) Evidence and Argument.
26 During the proceeding any information relevant to any of

SB2151- 42 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1the factors set forth in subsection (b) may be presented by
2either the State or the defendant under the rules governing
3the admission of evidence at criminal trials. Any information
4relevant to any additional aggravating factors or any
5mitigating factors indicated in subsection (c) may be
6presented by the State or defendant regardless of its
7admissibility under the rules governing the admission of
8evidence at criminal trials. The State and the defendant shall
9be given fair opportunity to rebut any information received at
10the hearing.
11 (f) Proof.
12 The burden of proof of establishing the existence of any
13of the factors set forth in subsection (b) is on the State and
14shall not be satisfied unless established beyond a reasonable
15doubt.
16 (g) Procedure - Jury.
17 If at the separate sentencing proceeding the jury finds
18that none of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exists,
19the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
20imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
21Corrections. If there is a unanimous finding by the jury that
22one or more of the factors set forth in subsection (b) exist,
23the jury shall consider aggravating and mitigating factors as
24instructed by the court and shall determine whether the
25sentence of death shall be imposed. If the jury determines
26unanimously, after weighing the factors in aggravation and

SB2151- 43 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1mitigation, that death is the appropriate sentence, the court
2shall sentence the defendant to death. If the court does not
3concur with the jury determination that death is the
4appropriate sentence, the court shall set forth reasons in
5writing including what facts or circumstances the court relied
6upon, along with any relevant documents, that compelled the
7court to non-concur with the sentence. This document and any
8attachments shall be part of the record for appellate review.
9The court shall be bound by the jury's sentencing
10determination.
11 If after weighing the factors in aggravation and
12mitigation, one or more jurors determines that death is not
13the appropriate sentence, the court shall sentence the
14defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
15Unified Code of Corrections.
16 (h) Procedure - No Jury.
17 In a proceeding before the court alone, if the court finds
18that none of the factors found in subsection (b) exists, the
19court shall sentence the defendant to a term of imprisonment
20under Chapter V of the Unified Code of Corrections.
21 If the Court determines that one or more of the factors set
22forth in subsection (b) exists, the Court shall consider any
23aggravating and mitigating factors as indicated in subsection
24(c). If the Court determines, after weighing the factors in
25aggravation and mitigation, that death is the appropriate
26sentence, the Court shall sentence the defendant to death.

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1 If the court finds that death is not the appropriate
2sentence, the court shall sentence the defendant to a term of
3imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
4Corrections.
5 (h-5) Decertification as a capital case.
6 In a case in which the defendant has been found guilty of
7first degree murder by a judge or jury, or a case on remand for
8resentencing, and the State seeks the death penalty as an
9appropriate sentence, on the court's own motion or the written
10motion of the defendant, the court may decertify the case as a
11death penalty case if the court finds that the only evidence
12supporting the defendant's conviction is the uncorroborated
13testimony of an informant witness, as defined in Section
14115-21 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963, concerning
15the confession or admission of the defendant or that the sole
16evidence against the defendant is a single eyewitness or
17single accomplice without any other corroborating evidence. If
18the court decertifies the case as a capital case under either
19of the grounds set forth above, the court shall issue a written
20finding. The State may pursue its right to appeal the
21decertification pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 604(a)(1). If
22the court does not decertify the case as a capital case, the
23matter shall proceed to the eligibility phase of the
24sentencing hearing.
25 (i) Appellate Procedure.
26 The conviction and sentence of death shall be subject to

SB2151- 45 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1automatic review by the Supreme Court. Such review shall be in
2accordance with rules promulgated by the Supreme Court. The
3Illinois Supreme Court may overturn the death sentence, and
4order the imposition of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
5Unified Code of Corrections if the court finds that the death
6sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
7case. If the Illinois Supreme Court finds that the death
8sentence is fundamentally unjust as applied to the particular
9case, independent of any procedural grounds for relief, the
10Illinois Supreme Court shall issue a written opinion
11explaining this finding.
12 (j) Disposition of reversed death sentence.
13 In the event that the death penalty in this Act is held to
14be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States
15or of the State of Illinois, any person convicted of first
16degree murder shall be sentenced by the court to a term of
17imprisonment under Chapter V of the Unified Code of
18Corrections.
19 In the event that any death sentence pursuant to the
20sentencing provisions of this Section is declared
21unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States or
22of the State of Illinois, the court having jurisdiction over a
23person previously sentenced to death shall cause the defendant
24to be brought before the court, and the court shall sentence
25the defendant to a term of imprisonment under Chapter V of the
26Unified Code of Corrections.

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1 (k) Guidelines for seeking the death penalty.
2 The Attorney General and State's Attorneys Association
3shall consult on voluntary guidelines for procedures governing
4whether or not to seek the death penalty. The guidelines do not
5have the force of law and are only advisory in nature.
6(Source: P.A. 100-460, eff. 1-1-18; 100-513, eff. 1-1-18;
7100-863, eff. 8-14-18; 101-223, eff. 1-1-20; 101-652, eff.
87-1-21.)
9 Section 115. The Code of Criminal Procedure of 1963 is
10amended by changing Sections 113-3 and 119-1 as follows:
11 (725 ILCS 5/113-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 113-3)
12 Sec. 113-3. (a) Every person charged with an offense shall
13be allowed counsel before pleading to the charge. If the
14defendant desires counsel and has been unable to obtain same
15before arraignment the court shall recess court or continue
16the cause for a reasonable time to permit defendant to obtain
17counsel and consult with him before pleading to the charge. If
18the accused is a dissolved corporation, and is not represented
19by counsel, the court may, in the interest of justice, appoint
20as counsel a licensed attorney of this State.
21 (b) In all cases, except where the penalty is a fine only,
22if the court determines that the defendant is indigent and
23desires counsel, the Public Defender shall be appointed as
24counsel. If there is no Public Defender in the county or if the

SB2151- 47 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1defendant requests counsel other than the Public Defender and
2the court finds that the rights of the defendant will be
3prejudiced by the appointment of the Public Defender, the
4court shall appoint as counsel a licensed attorney at law of
5this State, except that in a county having a population of
62,000,000 or more the Public Defender shall be appointed as
7counsel in all misdemeanor cases where the defendant is
8indigent and desires counsel unless the case involves multiple
9defendants, in which case the court may appoint counsel other
10than the Public Defender for the additional defendants. The
11court shall require an affidavit signed by any defendant who
12requests court-appointed counsel. Such affidavit shall be in
13the form established by the Supreme Court containing
14sufficient information to ascertain the assets and liabilities
15of that defendant. The Court may direct the Clerk of the
16Circuit Court to assist the defendant in the completion of the
17affidavit. Any person who knowingly files such affidavit
18containing false information concerning his assets and
19liabilities shall be liable to the county where the case, in
20which such false affidavit is filed, is pending for the
21reasonable value of the services rendered by the public
22defender or other court-appointed counsel in the case to the
23extent that such services were unjustly or falsely procured.
24 (c) Upon the filing with the court of a verified statement
25of services rendered the court shall order the county
26treasurer of the county of trial to pay counsel other than the

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1Public Defender a reasonable fee. The court shall consider all
2relevant circumstances, including but not limited to the time
3spent while court is in session, other time spent in
4representing the defendant, and expenses reasonably incurred
5by counsel. In counties with a population greater than
62,000,000, the court shall order the county treasurer of the
7county of trial to pay counsel other than the Public Defender a
8reasonable fee stated in the order and based upon a rate of
9compensation of not more than $40 for each hour spent while
10court is in session and not more than $30 for each hour
11otherwise spent representing a defendant, and such
12compensation shall not exceed $150 for each defendant
13represented in misdemeanor cases and $1250 in felony cases, in
14addition to expenses reasonably incurred as hereinafter in
15this Section provided, except that, in extraordinary
16circumstances, payment in excess of the limits herein stated
17may be made if the trial court certifies that such payment is
18necessary to provide fair compensation for protracted
19representation. A trial court may entertain the filing of this
20verified statement before the termination of the cause, and
21may order the provisional payment of sums during the pendency
22of the cause.
23 (d) In capital cases, in addition to counsel, if the court
24determines that the defendant is indigent the court may, upon
25the filing with the court of a verified statement of services
26rendered, order the county Treasurer of the county of trial to

SB2151- 49 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1pay necessary expert witnesses for defendant reasonable
2compensation stated in the order not to exceed $250 for each
3defendant.
4 (e) If the court in any county having a population greater
5than 2,000,000 determines that the defendant is indigent the
6court may, upon the filing with the court of a verified
7statement of such expenses, order the county treasurer of the
8county of trial, in such counties having a population greater
9than 2,000,000 to pay the general expenses of the trial
10incurred by the defendant not to exceed $50 for each
11defendant.
12 (f) The provisions of this Section relating to appointment
13of counsel, compensation of counsel, and payment of expenses
14in capital cases apply except when the compensation and
15expenses are being provided under the Capital Crimes
16Litigation Act of 2023.
17(Source: P.A. 91-589, eff. 1-1-00.)
18 (725 ILCS 5/119-1)
19 Sec. 119-1. Death penalty restored abolished.
20 (a) (Blank). Beginning on the effective date of this
21amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, notwithstanding
22any other law to the contrary, the death penalty is abolished
23and a sentence to death may not be imposed.
24 (b) All unobligated and unexpended moneys remaining in the
25Capital Litigation Trust Fund on the effective date of this

SB2151- 50 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly shall be
2transferred into the Death Penalty Abolition Fund on the
3effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd General
4Assembly shall be transferred into the Capital Litigation
5Trust Fund , a special fund in the State treasury, to be
6expended by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information
7Authority, for services for families of victims of homicide or
8murder and for training of law enforcement personnel.
9(Source: P.A. 96-1543, eff. 7-1-11.)
10 Section 120. The State Appellate Defender Act is amended
11by changing Section 10 as follows:
12 (725 ILCS 105/10) (from Ch. 38, par. 208-10)
13 Sec. 10. Powers and duties of State Appellate Defender.
14 (a) The State Appellate Defender shall represent indigent
15persons on appeal in criminal and delinquent minor
16proceedings, when appointed to do so by a court under a Supreme
17Court Rule or law of this State.
18 (b) The State Appellate Defender shall submit a budget for
19the approval of the State Appellate Defender Commission.
20 (c) The State Appellate Defender may:
21 (1) maintain a panel of private attorneys available to
22 serve as counsel on a case basis;
23 (2) establish programs, alone or in conjunction with
24 law schools, for the purpose of utilizing volunteer law

SB2151- 51 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 students as legal assistants;
2 (3) cooperate and consult with state agencies,
3 professional associations, and other groups concerning the
4 causes of criminal conduct, the rehabilitation and
5 correction of persons charged with and convicted of crime,
6 the administration of criminal justice, and, in counties
7 of less than 1,000,000 population, study, design, develop
8 and implement model systems for the delivery of trial
9 level defender services, and make an annual report to the
10 General Assembly;
11 (4) hire investigators to provide investigative
12 services to appointed counsel and county public defenders;
13 (5) (blank);
14 (5.1) in cases in which a death sentence is an
15 authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with legal
16 assistance and the assistance of expert witnesses,
17 investigators, and mitigation specialists from funds
18 appropriated to the State Appellate Defender specifically
19 for that purpose by the General Assembly. The Office of
20 State Appellate Defender shall not be appointed to serve
21 as trial counsel in capital cases;
22 (5.5) provide training to county public defenders;
23 (5.7) provide county public defenders with the
24 assistance of expert witnesses and investigators from
25 funds appropriated to the State Appellate Defender
26 specifically for that purpose by the General Assembly. The

SB2151- 52 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 Office of the State Appellate Defender shall not be
2 appointed to act as trial counsel;
3 (6) develop a Juvenile Defender Resource Center to:
4 (i) study, design, develop, and implement model systems
5 for the delivery of trial level defender services for
6 juveniles in the justice system; (ii) in cases in which a
7 sentence of incarceration or an adult sentence, or both,
8 is an authorized disposition, provide trial counsel with
9 legal advice and the assistance of expert witnesses and
10 investigators from funds appropriated to the Office of the
11 State Appellate Defender by the General Assembly
12 specifically for that purpose; (iii) develop and provide
13 training to public defenders on juvenile justice issues,
14 utilizing resources including the State and local bar
15 associations, the Illinois Public Defender Association,
16 law schools, the Midwest Juvenile Defender Center, and pro
17 bono efforts by law firms; and (iv) make an annual report
18 to the General Assembly.
19 Investigators employed by the Capital Trial Assistance
20Unit and Capital Post Conviction Unit of the State Appellate
21Defender shall be authorized to inquire through the Illinois
22State Police or local law enforcement with the Law Enforcement
23Agencies Data System (LEADS) under Section 2605-375 of the
24Civil Administrative Code of Illinois to ascertain whether
25their potential witnesses have a criminal background,
26including, but not limited to: (i) warrants; (ii) arrests;

SB2151- 53 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1(iii) convictions; and (iv) officer safety information. This
2authorization applies only to information held on the State
3level and shall be used only to protect the personal safety of
4the investigators. Any information that is obtained through
5this inquiry may not be disclosed by the investigators.
6 (c-5) For each State fiscal year, the State Appellate
7Defender shall request a direct appropriation from the Capital
8Litigation Trust Fund for expenses incurred by the State
9Appellate Defender in providing assistance to trial attorneys
10under paragraph (5.1) of subsection (c) of this Section and
11for expenses incurred by the State Appellate Defender in
12representing petitioners in capital cases in post-conviction
13proceedings under Article 122 of the Code of Criminal
14Procedure of 1963 and in relation to petitions filed under
15Section 2-1401 of the Code of Civil Procedure in relation to
16capital cases and for the representation of those petitioners
17by attorneys approved by or contracted with the State
18Appellate Defender and an appropriation to the State Treasurer
19for payments from the Trust Fund for the defense of cases in
20counties other than Cook County. The State Appellate Defender
21may appear before the General Assembly at other times during
22the State's fiscal year to request supplemental appropriations
23from the Trust Fund to the State Treasurer.
24 (d) (Blank).
25 (e) The requirement for reporting to the General Assembly
26shall be satisfied by filing copies of the report as required

SB2151- 54 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1by Section 3.1 of the General Assembly Organization Act and
2filing such additional copies with the State Government Report
3Distribution Center for the General Assembly as is required
4under paragraph (t) of Section 7 of the State Library Act.
5(Source: P.A. 99-78, eff. 7-20-15; 100-1148, eff. 12-10-18.)

SB2151- 55 -LRB103 25244 RLC 57272 b
1 INDEX
2 Statutes amended in order of appearance