Amends the Structured Settlement Protection Act. Provides that the structured settlement obligor and the annuity issuer shall be discharged from any and all liability by complying with a court order approving a transfer of structured settlement payment rights, and shall not have or incur any liability to the payee, transferee, or assignee as a result of the failure of the court order, transfer agreement, disclosure statement, or the transfer proceeding to comply with the Act, another applicable State or federal statute relating to structured settlement transfers, or any other law. Provides that an application for approval of a structured settlement transfer shall be brought in the circuit court of the county in which the payee is domiciled at the time the transfer agreement was signed or, if the payee is not domiciled in this State or in any other state that has enacted a statute that requires court approval of a transfer of structured settlement payment rights, then the application may be brought in the county in which the structured settlement obligor or annuity issuer is domiciled or has its principal place of business in this State. Provides what information is necessary to make an application to the court under the Act. Provides that a court may review all applications for transfer filed, and may approve or deny a transfer despite the existence of terms in the underlying settlement agreement, qualified assignment, related annuity, or in any other relevant document that purports to restrict or preclude the payee's right or power to assign or transfer structured settlement payment rights. Makes other changes.
Sponsored bills
Amends the Illinois Public Aid Code. Provides that subject to federal approval if required, a household that includes an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 200% of the nonfarm income poverty guidelines updated periodically in the Federal Register by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2); and a household that does not include an elderly, blind, or disabled person shall be considered categorically eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits if the gross income of such household is at or below 165% of those nonfarm income poverty guidelines. Effective January 1, 2016.
Amends the Department of Professional Regulation Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall create and maintain a website to help persons wishing to create new businesses or relocate businesses to Illinois. Establishes requirements for information to be included on the website.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, among other discovery, the physical and mental examinations of parties and other persons, the taking of depositions, and interrogatories (rather than "answers to interrogatories") shall be in accordance with court rules. Deletes language providing that: (1) the taking of depositions, whether for use in evidence or for purposes of discovery in proceedings in this State or elsewhere, and fees and charges in connection therewith, shall be in accordance with rules; (2) a party shall not be required to furnish the names or addresses of his or her witnesses, except that upon motion of any party disclosure of the identity of expert witnesses shall be made to all parties and the court in sufficient time in advance of trial so as to insure a fair and equitable preparation of the case by all parties; (3) whenever the defendant in any litigation in this State has the right to demand a physical or mental examination of the plaintiff pursuant to statute or Supreme Court Rule, relative to the occurrence and extent of injuries or damages for which claim is made, or in connection with the plaintiff's capacity to exercise any right plaintiff has, or would have but for a finding based upon such examination, the plaintiff has the right to have his or her attorney, or such other person as the plaintiff may wish, present at such physical or mental examination; and (4) no person or organization shall be required to furnish claims, loss or risk management information held or provided by an insurer described in a specified Section of the Illinois Insurance Code.
Encourages Congress to pass a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank before its charter expires on June 30, 2015.
Asks Congress to pass Trade Promotion Authority and urges the United States Trade Representative to conclude the negotiations and recommend ratification of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership also known as T-TIP.
Creates the Englewood Violent Crime Task Force to: (1) study and determine the causes of violent crime in Englewood and nearby affected communities; (2) study and determine the feasibility of deploying the Illinois State Police to Englewood and nearby affected communities and neighborhoods; (3) develop a comprehensive long-term solution to the effect of violent crime in the Englewood and nearby affected communities; (4) recommend a plan of action to substantially reduce the incidents of violent crime in Englewood and nearby affected communities; and (5) draft any necessary legislation and make any necessary recommendations for appropriations to place the plan of action into immediate effect.
Amends the Code of Civil Procedure. Provides that, when entering judgment for reasonable attorney's fees in any civil case under a statute permitting the prevailing party to recover reasonable attorney's fees, the court shall use the Laffey Matrix prepared by the Civil Division of the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia and adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the Washington-Baltimore area. Excludes cases in which the hourly rate for attorney's fees is limited by statute.
Amends the Illinois Pension Code. Creates a Tier III benefit package applicable to persons who first begin participating in one of the State-funded retirement systems on or after July 1, 2014. Provides for retirement benefits and certain employee contribution changes that supersede the corresponding provisions of the applicable retirement system. Provides that those retirement benefits may be annually increased or decreased in response to the retirement system's investment earnings. Changes the amount of the required State contributions and, in the State Universities and Downstate Teacher Articles, requires the actual employers to make contributions to amortize any unfunded liabilities arising out of their employees who are Tier III participants. Provides that, when the State's total debt service obligation for certain pension bonds has ended, any funds remaining available for the payment of that debt service shall be distributed to the 5 State-funded retirement systems, to be used to reduce their unfunded actuarial liabilities. Amends the State Mandates Act to require implementation without reimbursement. Effective immediately.
Amends the Civil Practice Law of the Code of Civil Procedure. In provisions requiring persons or entities named as respondents in discovery to respond to discovery in the same manner as defendants, adds language providing that discovery includes a request for admission of facts or of genuineness of documents. Provides that respondents in discovery may, on motion of the plaintiff, be added as defendants if a preponderance of the evidence discloses cause for such action (instead of "if the evidence discloses the existence of probable cause for such action"). Makes corresponding changes in the statutory summons to a respondent in discovery.