SB2551 Engrossed LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public
5 Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
 
6     Section 5. Legislative declaration. Public corruption is a
7 far-reaching, continuing and extremely profitable criminal
8 enterprise, which diverts significant amounts of public money
9 for illicit purposes. Public corruption-related schemes
10 persist despite the threat of prosecution and the actual
11 prosecution and imprisonment of individual participants
12 because existing sanctions do not effectively reach the money
13 and other assets generated by such schemes. It is therefore
14 necessary to supplement existing sanctions by mandating
15 forfeiture of money and other assets generated by public
16 corruption-related activities. Forfeiture diminishes the
17 financial incentives which encourage and sustain public
18 corruption, restores public moneys which have been diverted by
19 public corruption, and secures for the People of the State of
20 Illinois assets to be used for enforcement of laws governing
21 public corruption.
 
22     Section 10. Penalties.

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 2 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     (a) A person who is convicted of a violation of any of the
2 following Sections, subsections, and clauses of the Criminal
3 Code of 1961:
4         (1) clause (a)(6) of Section 12-6 (intimidation by a
5     public official),
6         (2) Section 33-1 (bribery), or
7         (3) subsection (a) of Section 33E-7 (kickbacks),
8 shall forfeit to the State of Illinois:
9         (A) any profits or proceeds and any property or
10     property interest he or she has acquired or maintained in
11     violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses (1)
12     through (3) of this subsection (a) that the court
13     determines, after a forfeiture hearing under subsection
14     (b) of this Section, to have been acquired or maintained as
15     a result of violating any of the offenses listed in clauses
16     (1) through (3) of this subsection (a); and
17         (B) any interest in, security of, claim against, or
18     property or contractual right of any kind affording a
19     source of influence over, any enterprise which he or she
20     has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or
21     participated in the conduct of, in violation of any of the
22     offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of this
23     subsection (a) that the court determines, after a
24     forfeiture hearing under subsection (b) of this Section, to
25     have been acquired or maintained as a result of violating
26     any of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 3 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     this subsection (a) or used to facilitate a violation of
2     one of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of
3     this subsection (a).
4     (b) The court shall, upon petition by the Attorney General
5 or State's Attorney, at any time after the filing of an
6 information or return of an indictment, conduct a hearing to
7 determine whether any property or property interest is subject
8 to forfeiture under this Act. At the forfeiture hearing the
9 people shall have the burden of establishing, by a
10 preponderance of the evidence, that property or property
11 interests are subject to forfeiture under this Act. There is a
12 rebuttable presumption at such hearing that any property or
13 property interest of a person charged by information or
14 indictment with a violation of any of the offenses listed in
15 clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section or
16 who is convicted of a violation of any of the offenses listed
17 in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section is
18 subject to forfeiture under this Section if the State
19 establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that:
20         (1) such property or property interest was acquired by
21     such person during the period of the violation of any of
22     the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of
23     subsection (a) of this Section or within a reasonable time
24     after such period; and
25         (2) there was no likely source for such property or
26     property interest other than the violation of any of the

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 4 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection
2     (a) of this Section.
3     (c) In an action brought by the People of the State of
4 Illinois under this Act, wherein any restraining order,
5 injunction or prohibition or any other action in connection
6 with any property or property interest subject to forfeiture
7 under this Act is sought, the circuit court which shall preside
8 over the trial of the person or persons charged with any of the
9 offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of
10 this Section shall first determine whether there is probable
11 cause to believe that the person or persons so charged have
12 committed a violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses
13 (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section and whether
14 the property or property interest is subject to forfeiture
15 pursuant to this Act.
16     In order to make such a determination, prior to entering
17 any such order, the court shall conduct a hearing without a
18 jury, wherein the People shall establish that there is: (i)
19 probable cause that the person or persons so charged have
20 committed one of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3)
21 of subsection (a) of this Section and (ii) probable cause that
22 any property or property interest may be subject to forfeiture
23 pursuant to this Act. Such hearing may be conducted
24 simultaneously with a preliminary hearing, if the prosecution
25 is commenced by information or complaint, or by motion of the
26 People, at any stage in the proceedings. The court may accept a

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 5 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing following
2 the filing of a charge for violating one of the offenses listed
3 in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section or
4 the return of an indictment by a grand jury charging one of the
5 offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of
6 this Section as sufficient evidence of probable cause as
7 provided in item (i) above.
8     Upon such a finding, the circuit court shall enter such
9 restraining order, injunction or prohibition, or shall take
10 such other action in connection with any such property or
11 property interest subject to forfeiture under this Act, as is
12 necessary to insure that such property is not removed from the
13 jurisdiction of the court, concealed, destroyed or otherwise
14 disposed of by the owner of that property or property interest
15 prior to a forfeiture hearing under subsection (b) of this
16 Section. The Attorney General or State's Attorney shall file a
17 certified copy of such restraining order, injunction or other
18 prohibition with the recorder of deeds or registrar of titles
19 of each county where any such property of the defendant may be
20 located. No such injunction, restraining order or other
21 prohibition shall affect the rights of any bona fide purchaser,
22 mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lien holder arising prior
23 to the date of such filing.
24     The court may, at any time, upon verified petition by the
25 defendant, conduct a hearing to release all or portions of any
26 such property or interest which the court previously determined

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 6 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 to be subject to forfeiture or subject to any restraining
2 order, injunction, or prohibition or other action. The court
3 may release such property to the defendant for good cause shown
4 and within the sound discretion of the court.
5     (d) Prosecution under this Act may be commenced by the
6 Attorney General or a State's Attorney.
7     (e) Upon an order of forfeiture being entered pursuant to
8 subsection (b) of this Section, the court shall authorize the
9 Attorney General to seize any property or property interest
10 declared forfeited under this Act and under such terms and
11 conditions as the court shall deem proper. Any property or
12 property interest that has been the subject of an entered
13 restraining order, injunction or prohibition or any other
14 action filed under subsection (c) shall be forfeited unless the
15 claimant can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the
16 property or property interest has not been acquired or
17 maintained as a result of a violation of any of the offenses
18 listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this
19 Section or has not been used to facilitate a violation of any
20 of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection
21 (a) of this Section.
22     (f) The Attorney General or his or her designee is
23 authorized to sell all property forfeited and seized pursuant
24 to this Act, unless such property is required by law to be
25 destroyed or is harmful to the public, and, after the deduction
26 of all requisite expenses of administration and sale, shall

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 7 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 distribute the proceeds of such sale, along with any moneys
2 forfeited or seized, in accordance with subsection (g).
3     (g) All monies and the sale proceeds of all other property
4 forfeited and seized pursuant to this Act shall be distributed
5 as follows:
6         (1) An amount equal to 50% shall be distributed to the
7     unit of local government or other law enforcement agency
8     whose officers or employees conducted the investigation
9     into a violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses
10     (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section and
11     caused the arrest or arrests and prosecution leading to the
12     forfeiture. Amounts distributed to units of local
13     government and law enforcement agencies shall be used for
14     enforcement of laws governing public corruption, or for
15     other law enforcement purposes. In the event, however, that
16     the investigation, arrest or arrests and prosecution
17     leading to the forfeiture were undertaken solely by a State
18     agency, the portion provided hereunder shall be paid into
19     the State Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be
20     used by that State agency in accordance with law.
21         (2) An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to
22     the county in which the prosecution resulting in the
23     forfeiture was instituted, deposited in a special fund in
24     the county treasury and appropriated to the State's
25     Attorney for use in accordance with law. If the prosecution
26     was conducted by the Attorney General, then the amount

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 8 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     provided under this subsection shall be paid into the State
2     Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be used by
3     the Attorney General in accordance with law.
4         (3) An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to
5     the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor
6     and deposited in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund, to be
7     used by the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate
8     Prosecutor for additional expenses incurred in prosecuting
9     appeals arising under this Act. Any amounts remaining in
10     the Fund after all additional expenses have been paid shall
11     be used by the Office to reduce the participating county
12     contributions to the Office on a prorated basis as
13     determined by the board of governors of the Office of the
14     State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor based on the
15     populations of the participating counties. If the appeal is
16     to be conducted by the Attorney General, then the amount
17     provided under this subsection shall be paid into the State
18     Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be used by
19     the Attorney General in accordance with law.
20         (4) An amount equal to 25% shall be paid into the State
21     Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be used by
22     the Department of State Police for the funding of the
23     investigation of public corruption activities. Any amounts
24     remaining in the Fund after full funding of such
25     investigations shall be used by the Department in
26     accordance with law to fund its other enforcement

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 9 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     activities.
2     (h) All monies deposited pursuant to this Act in the State
3 Asset Forfeiture Fund are appropriated, on a continuing basis,
4 to the Department of State Police to be used in the manner set
5 forth in this Section.
 
6     Section 15. Forfeiture of political contribution. Whenever
7 any person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, any offense
8 under subsection (a) of Section 10 of this Act, or is convicted
9 of a violation of any of the following Sections of Title 18 of
10 the United States Code: (i) Section 872 (extortion); (ii)
11 Section 880 (receiving the proceeds of extortion); (iii)
12 Section 201 (bribery); or (iv) Section 874 (kickbacks), in
13 addition to any other penalty imposed by the court, all
14 contributions (as defined by Section 9-1.4 of the Election
15 Code) or other receipts held at the time of forfeiture by a
16 political committee (as defined by Section 9-1.8 of the
17 Election Code), which is controlled by that person, shall be
18 paid to the State within 30 days from the date of the entry of
19 the guilty plea or conviction. Payments received by the State
20 pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the General
21 Revenue Fund.
 
22     Section 20. Fines.
23     (a) Whenever any person pleads guilty to or is found guilty
24 of an offense under this Act, a fine may be levied in addition

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 10 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 to any other penalty imposed by the court.
2     (b) In determining whether to impose a fine under this
3 Section and the amount, time for payment, and method of payment
4 of any fine so imposed, the court shall:
5         (1) consider the defendant's income, regardless of
6     source, the defendant's earning capacity, and the
7     defendant's financial resources, as well as the nature of
8     the burden the fine will impose on the defendant and any
9     person legally or financially dependent upon the
10     defendant;
11         (2) consider the proof received at trial, or as a
12     result of a plea of guilty, concerning any profits or other
13     proceeds derived by the defendant from the violation of
14     this Act;
15         (3) take into account any other pertinent equitable
16     considerations; and
17         (4) give primary consideration to the need to deprive
18     the defendant of illegally obtained profits or other
19     proceeds from the offense.
20     (c) As a condition of a fine, the court may require that
21 payment be made in specified installments or within a specified
22 period of time, but such period shall not be greater than the
23 maximum applicable term of probation or imprisonment,
24 whichever is greater. Unless otherwise specified, payment of a
25 fine shall be due immediately.
26     (d) If a fine for a violation of this Act is imposed on an

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 11 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 organization, it is the duty of each individual authorized to
2 make disbursements of the assets of the organization to pay the
3 fine from assets of the organization.
4     (e) (1) A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine,
5 and who has paid part but not all of such fine, may petition
6 the court for an extension of the time for payment or
7 modification of the method of payment.
8         (2) The court may grant a petition made pursuant to
9     this subsection if it finds that:
10             (i) the circumstances that warranted payment by
11         the time or method specified no longer exist; or
12             (ii) it is otherwise unjust to require payment of
13         the fine by the time or method specified.
 
14     Section 25. Distribution of proceeds of fines.
15     (a) The proceeds of all fines received under the provisions
16 of this Act shall be transmitted to and deposited in the
17 treasurer's office at the level of government as follows:
18         (1) If the seizure was made by a combination of law
19     enforcement personnel representing differing units of
20     local government, the court levying the fine shall
21     equitably allocate 50% of the fine among these units of
22     local government and shall allocate 50% to the county
23     general corporate fund. In the event that the seizure was
24     made by law enforcement personnel representing a unit of
25     local government from a municipality where the number of

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 12 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     inhabitants exceeds 2 million, the court levying the fine
2     shall allocate 100% of the fine to that unit of local
3     government. If the seizure was made by a combination of law
4     enforcement personnel representing differing units of
5     local government, and at least one of those units
6     represents a municipality where the number of inhabitants
7     exceeds 2 million, the court shall equitably allocate 100%
8     of the proceeds of the fines received among the differing
9     units of local government.
10         (2) If such seizure was made by State law enforcement
11     personnel, then the court shall allocate 50% to the State
12     treasury and 50% to the county general corporate fund.
13         (3) If a State law enforcement agency in combination
14     with a law enforcement agency or agencies of a unit or
15     units of local government conducted the seizure, the court
16     shall equitably allocate 50% of the fines to or among the
17     law enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of
18     local government which conducted the seizure and shall
19     allocate 50% to the county general corporate fund.
20     (b) The proceeds of all fines allocated to the law
21 enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of local
22 government pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made available
23 to that law enforcement agency as expendable receipts for use
24 in the enforcement of laws regulating public corruption and
25 other laws. The proceeds of fines awarded to the State treasury
26 shall be deposited in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund. Monies

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 13 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 from this Fund may be used by the Department of State Police in
2 the enforcement of laws regulating public corruption and other
3 laws; and all other monies shall be paid into the General
4 Revenue Fund in the State treasury.
 
5     Section 30. Preventing and restraining violations.
6     (a) The circuit courts of the State shall have jurisdiction
7 to prevent and restrain violations of this Act by issuing
8 appropriate orders, including, but not limited to: ordering any
9 person to divest himself of any interest, direct or indirect,
10 in any enterprise; imposing reasonable restrictions on the
11 future activities or investment of any person, including, but
12 not limited to, prohibiting any person from engaging in the
13 same type of endeavor as the enterprise engaged in, the
14 activities of which affect business in the State of Illinois;
15 or ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise,
16 making due provision for the rights of innocent persons.
17     (b) The Attorney General or the State's Attorney may
18 institute proceedings under this Section. In any action brought
19 by the State of Illinois under this Section, the court shall
20 proceed as soon as practicable to the hearing and determination
21 thereof. Pending that determination, the court may at any time
22 enter such temporary restraining orders, preliminary or
23 permanent injunctions, or prohibitions, or take such other
24 actions including the acceptance of satisfactory performance
25 bonds by a defendant, as it shall deem proper.

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 14 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     (c) Any person directly injured in his business, person or
2 property by reason of a violation of this Act may sue the
3 violator therefor in any appropriate circuit court and shall
4 recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost
5 of the action, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
6     (d) A final judgment entered in favor of the People of the
7 State of Illinois in any criminal proceeding brought under this
8 Act shall estop the defendant in the criminal case from denying
9 the essential allegations of the criminal offense in any
10 subsequent civil proceeding brought under this Act.
 
11     Section 35. Venue. Any civil action or proceeding under
12 this Act against any person may be instituted in the circuit
13 court for any county in which such person resides, is found,
14 has an agent, transacts his or her affairs, or in which
15 property that is the subject of these proceedings is located.
 
16     Section 40. Intent. It is the intent of the General
17 Assembly that this Act be liberally construed so as to effect
18 the purposes of this Act and be construed in accordance with
19 similar provisions contained in the Narcotics Profit
20 Forfeiture Act.
 
21     Section 45. Severability. If any provision of this Act or
22 the application thereof to any person or circumstance is
23 invalid, such invalidation shall not affect other provisions or

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 15 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 applications of the Act which can be given effect without the
2 invalid provision or application, and to this end the
3 provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
 
4     Section 50. The Election Code is amended by changing
5 Section 9-8.10 as follows:
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)
7     Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other reporting
8 organization funds.
9     (a) A political committee, or organization subject to
10 Section 9-7.5, shall not make expenditures:
11         (1) In violation of any law of the United States or of
12     this State.
13         (2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the
14     services, materials, facilities, or other things of value
15     received in exchange.
16         (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other
17     than loans made to the committee or to the public official
18     or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment of
19     goods and services purchased by the committee under a
20     credit agreement. Nothing in this Section authorizes the
21     use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. The
22     repayments shall be made by check written to the person who
23     made the loan or credit agreement. The terms and conditions
24     of any loan or credit agreement to a committee shall be set

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 16 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     forth in a written agreement, including but not limited to
2     the method and amount of repayment, that shall be executed
3     by the chairman or treasurer of the committee at the time
4     of the loan or credit agreement. The loan or agreement
5     shall also set forth the rate of interest for the loan, if
6     any, which may not substantially exceed the prevailing
7     market interest rate at the time the agreement is executed.
8         (4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or
9     for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal
10     residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral for
11     home mortgages.
12         (5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses, except
13     clothing items rented by the public official or candidate
14     for his or her own use exclusively for a specific
15     campaign-related event, provided that committees may
16     purchase costumes, novelty items, or other accessories
17     worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.
18         (6) For the travel expenses of any person unless the
19     travel is necessary for fulfillment of political,
20     governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or
21     purposes.
22         (7) For membership or club dues charged by
23     organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily
24     engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational
25     services; provided, however, that funds received under
26     this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 17 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1     for a specific campaign-related event.
2         (8) In payment for anything of value or for
3     reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has
4     been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes of
5     this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a reimbursement.
6         (9) For the purchase of or installment payment for a
7     motor vehicle unless the political committee can
8     demonstrate that purchase of a motor vehicle is more
9     cost-effective than leasing a motor vehicle as permitted
10     under this item (9). A political committee may lease or
11     purchase and insure, maintain, and repair a motor vehicle
12     if the vehicle will be used primarily for campaign purposes
13     or for the performance of governmental duties. A committee
14     shall not make expenditures for use of the vehicle for
15     non-campaign or non-governmental purposes. Persons using
16     vehicles not purchased or leased by a political committee
17     may be reimbursed for actual mileage for the use of the
18     vehicle for campaign purposes or for the performance of
19     governmental duties. The mileage reimbursements shall be
20     made at a rate not to exceed the standard mileage rate
21     method for computation of business expenses under the
22     Internal Revenue Code.
23         (10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other
24     educational expenses, except for governmental or political
25     purposes directly related to a candidate's or public
26     official's duties and responsibilities.

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 18 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1         (11) For payments to a public official or candidate or
2     his or her family member unless for compensation for
3     services actually rendered by that person. The provisions
4     of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a
5     political committee in an aggregate amount not exceeding
6     the amount of funds reported to and certified by the State
7     Board or county clerk as available as of June 30, 1998, in
8     the semi-annual report of contributions and expenditures
9     filed by the political committee for the period concluding
10     June 30, 1998.
11     (b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate, upon
12 receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the provisions
13 of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any person who
14 knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this Section and
15 on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and false
16 accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board may act
17 under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote of at
18 least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500 for each
19 expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the amount of
20 the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure greater than
21 $500. The Board shall also have the authority to render rulings
22 and issue opinions relating to compliance with this Section.
23     (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits the expenditure of
24 funds of (i) a political committee controlled by an
25 officeholder or by a candidate or (ii) an organization subject
26 to Section 9-7.5 to defray the customary and reasonable

 

 

SB2551 Engrossed - 19 - LRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

1 expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance
2 of governmental and public service functions.
3     (d) Nothing in this Section prohibits the funds of a
4 political committee which is controlled by a person convicted
5 of a violation of any of the offenses listed in subsection (a)
6 of Section 10 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act
7 from being forfeited to the State under Section 15 of the
8 Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
9 (Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 93-685, eff. 7-8-04.)
 
10     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
11 1, 2011.