Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for HB 3933

Amends the Access to Justice Act. Makes changes in the Section concerning legislative findings. Defines "Foundation" and "Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council". Provides that the Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council shall develop (instead of the "General Assembly encourages the Supreme Court to develop") specified pilot programs. Provides that moneys in the Access to Justice Fund shall be directed to and used by the Attorney General for grants to the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (instead of the Supreme Court) for specified purposes. Provides that grants made under the Act to the Foundation are subject to the requirements of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Provides that the Foundation may make grants, enter into contracts, and take other actions recommended by the Council to effectuate the pilot programs and comply with the other requirements of the Act. Contains reporting and administration provisions. Provides that the Council (instead of the Supreme Court) shall study the effectiveness of the pilot programs and submit a report to the Governor and General Assembly by June 1, 2021 (instead of June 1, 2017). Amends the Clerks of Courts Act. Provides that on and after September 1, 2015 (instead of "[i]f the Supreme Court develops a pilot program to provide court-based legal assistance in accordance with the Access to Justice Act"), the clerks of the circuit court shall collect specified fees for deposit into the Access to Justice Fund. Repeals the Section concerning these fees on September 1, 2020 (instead of August 15, 2018). Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause and reinserts provisions substantially similar to those of the bill, amending the Access to Justice Act and the Clerks of Courts Act, but with changes that include the following: (1) provides that moneys in the Access to Justice Fund shall be appropriated to (instead of directed to and used by) the Attorney General for disbursements (instead of grants) to the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation; (2) provides that the Foundation shall use the moneys to make grants and distributions for the administration of the pilot programs created under the Access to Justice Act; and (3) provides that fees received by circuit clerks in connection with the access to justice pilot programs shall be remitted by the clerks to the State Treasurer (instead of to the Attorney General). Effective immediately.

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill, but with the following changes: Deletes a provision requiring the Illinois Access to Civil Justice Council (Council) to develop a pilot program to provide court-based legal assistance within a circuit court in each appellate district of this State. Provides that the Supreme Court Access to Justice Commission may develop a pilot program to provide court-based legal assistance services. Provides that the moneys in the Access to Justice Fund shall be appropriated to the Attorney General for disbursements to the Foundation and that the Foundation shall use the moneys to make grants and distributions for the administration of the pilot programs created under the Act (rather than moneys in the Access to Justice Fund shall be directed to and used by the Attorney General for grants to the Foundation for the administration of the pilot programs created under the Act). Provides that grants or distributions (rather than grants) made under the Act to the Foundation are subject to the requirements of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act. Adds the Supreme Court to the list of persons and entities the Council is required to report to on the effectiveness of the pilot programs. Provides that the report "shall include the number of people served by the veteran and active military legal hotline and pro bono program and data on how the pilot programs expanded access to justice and the impact on government programs and community resources" (rather than "shall include the number of people served in each pilot program and data on the impact of varying levels of legal assistance on access to justice, the effect on fair and efficient court administration, and the impact on government programs and community resources"). Provides that this report shall describe the benefits of providing legal assistance to those who were previously unrepresented, both for the clients, "the military and veteran service organizations, and civil legal aid programs" (rather than "for the clients and the courts"). Makes the fee for filing certain documents with the clerks of the circuit court $2 (rather than $10). Provides that such fees shall be remitted to the clerk of the circuit court to the State Treasurer (rather than the Attorney General) as provided under the Act. Effective immediately.

Date	Chamber	Action
8/5/2015	House	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0281

Date	Chamber	Action
2/27/2015	House	Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
2/27/2015	House	First Reading
2/27/2015	House	Referred to Rules Committee
3/12/2015	House	Assigned to Judiciary - Civil Committee
3/18/2015	House	Do Pass / Short Debate Judiciary - Civil Committee; 008-003-000
3/18/2015	House	Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate
4/9/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
4/9/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee
4/14/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-000-000
4/14/2015	House	Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Al Riley
4/14/2015	House	Second Reading - Short Debate
4/14/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted
4/14/2015	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
4/20/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
4/20/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Referred to Rules Committee
4/20/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 3 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
4/20/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 3 Referred to Rules Committee
4/21/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
4/21/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 3 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 004-000-000
4/22/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 4 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
4/22/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 4 Referred to Rules Committee
4/22/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 5 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Emily McAsey
4/22/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 5 Referred to Rules Committee
4/24/2015	House	Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee
5/5/2015	House	Approved for Consideration Rules Committee; 003-000-000
5/5/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 4 Recommends Be Adopted Rules Committee; 003-000-000
5/5/2015	House	Final Action Deadline Extended-9(b) May 15, 2015
5/5/2015	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/6/2015	House	Recalled to Second Reading - Short Debate
5/6/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 2 Withdrawn by Rep. Emily McAsey
5/6/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 3 Withdrawn by Rep. Emily McAsey
5/6/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 4 Adopted
5/6/2015	House	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate
5/6/2015	House	Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 111-000-000
5/6/2015	House	House Floor Amendment No. 5 Tabled
5/7/2015	Senate	Arrive in Senate
5/7/2015	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading May 12, 2015
5/12/2015	Senate	Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. John J. Cullerton
5/12/2015	Senate	First Reading
5/12/2015	Senate	Referred to Assignments
5/12/2015	Senate	Assigned to Judiciary
5/12/2015	Senate	Alternate Chief Sponsor Changed to Sen. Kwame Raoul
5/14/2015	Senate	Waive Posting Notice
5/15/2015	Senate	Rule 2-10 Committee Deadline Established As May 31, 2015
5/19/2015	Senate	Do Pass Judiciary; 011-000-000
5/19/2015	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 2nd Reading May 21, 2015
5/22/2015	Senate	Second Reading
5/22/2015	Senate	Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading May 25, 2015
5/22/2015	Senate	Rule 2-10 Third Reading Deadline Established As May 31, 2015
5/26/2015	Senate	Third Reading - Passed; 057-000-000
5/26/2015	House	Passed Both Houses
6/24/2015	House	Sent to the Governor
8/5/2015	House	Governor Approved
8/5/2015	House	Effective Date August 5, 2015
8/5/2015	House	Public Act . . . . . . . . . 99-0281