Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of Public Act 096-1019
Illinois General Assembly

Previous General Assemblies

Public Act 096-1019


 

Public Act 1019 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY



 


 
Public Act 096-1019
 
SB2551 EnrolledLRB096 17492 RLC 32848 b

    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
 
    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Public
Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
 
    Section 5. Legislative declaration. Public corruption is a
far-reaching, continuing and extremely profitable criminal
enterprise, which diverts significant amounts of public money
for illicit purposes. Public corruption-related schemes
persist despite the threat of prosecution and the actual
prosecution and imprisonment of individual participants
because existing sanctions do not effectively reach the money
and other assets generated by such schemes. It is therefore
necessary to supplement existing sanctions by mandating
forfeiture of money and other assets generated by public
corruption-related activities. Forfeiture diminishes the
financial incentives which encourage and sustain public
corruption, restores public moneys which have been diverted by
public corruption, and secures for the People of the State of
Illinois assets to be used for enforcement of laws governing
public corruption.
 
    Section 10. Penalties.
    (a) A person who is convicted of a violation of any of the
following Sections, subsections, and clauses of the Criminal
Code of 1961:
        (1) clause (a)(6) of Section 12-6 (intimidation by a
    public official),
        (2) Section 33-1 (bribery), or
        (3) subsection (a) of Section 33E-7 (kickbacks),
shall forfeit to the State of Illinois:
        (A) any profits or proceeds and any property or
    property interest he or she has acquired or maintained in
    violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses (1)
    through (3) of this subsection (a) that the court
    determines, after a forfeiture hearing under subsection
    (b) of this Section, to have been acquired or maintained as
    a result of violating any of the offenses listed in clauses
    (1) through (3) of this subsection (a); and
        (B) any interest in, security of, claim against, or
    property or contractual right of any kind affording a
    source of influence over, any enterprise which he or she
    has established, operated, controlled, conducted, or
    participated in the conduct of, in violation of any of the
    offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of this
    subsection (a) that the court determines, after a
    forfeiture hearing under subsection (b) of this Section, to
    have been acquired or maintained as a result of violating
    any of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of
    this subsection (a) or used to facilitate a violation of
    one of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of
    this subsection (a).
    (b) The court shall, upon petition by the Attorney General
or State's Attorney, at any time after the filing of an
information or return of an indictment, conduct a hearing to
determine whether any property or property interest is subject
to forfeiture under this Act. At the forfeiture hearing the
people shall have the burden of establishing, by a
preponderance of the evidence, that property or property
interests are subject to forfeiture under this Act. There is a
rebuttable presumption at such hearing that any property or
property interest of a person charged by information or
indictment with a violation of any of the offenses listed in
clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section or
who is convicted of a violation of any of the offenses listed
in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section is
subject to forfeiture under this Section if the State
establishes by a preponderance of the evidence that:
        (1) such property or property interest was acquired by
    such person during the period of the violation of any of
    the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of
    subsection (a) of this Section or within a reasonable time
    after such period; and
        (2) there was no likely source for such property or
    property interest other than the violation of any of the
    offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection
    (a) of this Section.
    (c) In an action brought by the People of the State of
Illinois under this Act, wherein any restraining order,
injunction or prohibition or any other action in connection
with any property or property interest subject to forfeiture
under this Act is sought, the circuit court which shall preside
over the trial of the person or persons charged with any of the
offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of
this Section shall first determine whether there is probable
cause to believe that the person or persons so charged have
committed a violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses
(1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section and whether
the property or property interest is subject to forfeiture
pursuant to this Act.
    In order to make such a determination, prior to entering
any such order, the court shall conduct a hearing without a
jury, wherein the People shall establish that there is: (i)
probable cause that the person or persons so charged have
committed one of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3)
of subsection (a) of this Section and (ii) probable cause that
any property or property interest may be subject to forfeiture
pursuant to this Act. Such hearing may be conducted
simultaneously with a preliminary hearing, if the prosecution
is commenced by information or complaint, or by motion of the
People, at any stage in the proceedings. The court may accept a
finding of probable cause at a preliminary hearing following
the filing of a charge for violating one of the offenses listed
in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section or
the return of an indictment by a grand jury charging one of the
offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of
this Section as sufficient evidence of probable cause as
provided in item (i) above.
    Upon such a finding, the circuit court shall enter such
restraining order, injunction or prohibition, or shall take
such other action in connection with any such property or
property interest subject to forfeiture under this Act, as is
necessary to insure that such property is not removed from the
jurisdiction of the court, concealed, destroyed or otherwise
disposed of by the owner of that property or property interest
prior to a forfeiture hearing under subsection (b) of this
Section. The Attorney General or State's Attorney shall file a
certified copy of such restraining order, injunction or other
prohibition with the recorder of deeds or registrar of titles
of each county where any such property of the defendant may be
located. No such injunction, restraining order or other
prohibition shall affect the rights of any bona fide purchaser,
mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lien holder arising prior
to the date of such filing.
    The court may, at any time, upon verified petition by the
defendant, conduct a hearing to release all or portions of any
such property or interest which the court previously determined
to be subject to forfeiture or subject to any restraining
order, injunction, or prohibition or other action. The court
may release such property to the defendant for good cause shown
and within the sound discretion of the court.
    (d) Prosecution under this Act may be commenced by the
Attorney General or a State's Attorney.
    (e) Upon an order of forfeiture being entered pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section, the court shall authorize the
Attorney General to seize any property or property interest
declared forfeited under this Act and under such terms and
conditions as the court shall deem proper. Any property or
property interest that has been the subject of an entered
restraining order, injunction or prohibition or any other
action filed under subsection (c) shall be forfeited unless the
claimant can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the
property or property interest has not been acquired or
maintained as a result of a violation of any of the offenses
listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this
Section or has not been used to facilitate a violation of any
of the offenses listed in clauses (1) through (3) of subsection
(a) of this Section.
    (f) The Attorney General or his or her designee is
authorized to sell all property forfeited and seized pursuant
to this Act, unless such property is required by law to be
destroyed or is harmful to the public, and, after the deduction
of all requisite expenses of administration and sale, shall
distribute the proceeds of such sale, along with any moneys
forfeited or seized, in accordance with subsection (g).
    (g) All monies and the sale proceeds of all other property
forfeited and seized pursuant to this Act shall be distributed
as follows:
        (1) An amount equal to 50% shall be distributed to the
    unit of local government or other law enforcement agency
    whose officers or employees conducted the investigation
    into a violation of any of the offenses listed in clauses
    (1) through (3) of subsection (a) of this Section and
    caused the arrest or arrests and prosecution leading to the
    forfeiture. Amounts distributed to units of local
    government and law enforcement agencies shall be used for
    enforcement of laws governing public corruption, or for
    other law enforcement purposes. In the event, however, that
    the investigation, arrest or arrests and prosecution
    leading to the forfeiture were undertaken solely by a State
    agency, the portion provided hereunder shall be paid into
    the State Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be
    used by that State agency in accordance with law. If the
    investigation, arrest or arrests and prosecution leading
    to the forfeiture were undertaken by the Attorney General,
    the portion provided hereunder shall be paid into the
    Attorney General's Whistleblower Reward and Protection
    Fund in the State treasury to be used by the Attorney
    General in accordance with law.
        (2) An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to
    the county in which the prosecution resulting in the
    forfeiture was instituted, deposited in a special fund in
    the county treasury and appropriated to the State's
    Attorney for use in accordance with law. If the prosecution
    was conducted by the Attorney General, then the amount
    provided under this subsection shall be paid into the
    Attorney General's Whistleblower Reward and Protection
    Fund in the State treasury to be used by the Attorney
    General in accordance with law.
        (3) An amount equal to 12.5% shall be distributed to
    the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor
    and deposited in the State's Attorneys Appellate
    Prosecutor Anti-Corruption Fund, to be used by the Office
    of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor for
    additional expenses incurred in prosecuting appeals
    arising under this Act. Any amounts remaining in the Fund
    after all additional expenses have been paid shall be used
    by the Office to reduce the participating county
    contributions to the Office on a prorated basis as
    determined by the board of governors of the Office of the
    State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor based on the
    populations of the participating counties. If the appeal is
    to be conducted by the Attorney General, then the amount
    provided under this subsection shall be paid into the
    Attorney General's Whistleblower Reward and Protection
    Fund in the State treasury to be used by the Attorney
    General in accordance with law.
        (4) An amount equal to 25% shall be paid into the State
    Asset Forfeiture Fund in the State treasury to be used by
    the Department of State Police for the funding of the
    investigation of public corruption activities. Any amounts
    remaining in the Fund after full funding of such
    investigations shall be used by the Department in
    accordance with law to fund its other enforcement
    activities.
    (h) All moneys deposited pursuant to this Act in the State
Asset Forfeiture Fund shall, subject to appropriation, be used
by the Department of State Police in the manner set forth in
this Section. All moneys deposited pursuant to this Act in the
Attorney General's Whistleblower Reward and Protection Fund
shall, subject to appropriation, be used by the Attorney
General for State law enforcement purposes and for the
performance of the duties of that office. All moneys deposited
pursuant to this Act in the State's Attorneys Appellate
Prosecutor Anti-Corruption Fund shall, subject to
appropriation, be used by the Office of the State's Attorneys
Appellate Prosecutor in the manner set forth in this Section.
 
    Section 15. Forfeiture of political contribution. Whenever
any person pleads guilty to, or is found guilty of, any offense
under subsection (a) of Section 10 of this Act, or is convicted
of a violation of any of the following Sections of Title 18 of
the United States Code: (i) Section 872 (extortion); (ii)
Section 880 (receiving the proceeds of extortion); (iii)
Section 201 (bribery); or (iv) Section 874 (kickbacks), in
addition to any other penalty imposed by the court, all
contributions (as defined by Section 9-1.4 of the Election
Code) or other receipts held at the time of forfeiture by a
political committee (as defined by Section 9-1.8 of the
Election Code), which is controlled by that person, shall be
paid to the State within 30 days from the date of the entry of
the guilty plea or conviction. Payments received by the State
pursuant to this Section shall be deposited into the General
Revenue Fund.
 
    Section 20. Fines.
    (a) Whenever any person pleads guilty to or is found guilty
of an offense under this Act, a fine may be levied in addition
to any other penalty imposed by the court.
    (b) In determining whether to impose a fine under this
Section and the amount, time for payment, and method of payment
of any fine so imposed, the court shall:
        (1) consider the defendant's income, regardless of
    source, the defendant's earning capacity, and the
    defendant's financial resources, as well as the nature of
    the burden the fine will impose on the defendant and any
    person legally or financially dependent upon the
    defendant;
        (2) consider the proof received at trial, or as a
    result of a plea of guilty, concerning any profits or other
    proceeds derived by the defendant from the violation of
    this Act;
        (3) take into account any other pertinent equitable
    considerations; and
        (4) give primary consideration to the need to deprive
    the defendant of illegally obtained profits or other
    proceeds from the offense.
    (c) As a condition of a fine, the court may require that
payment be made in specified installments or within a specified
period of time, but such period shall not be greater than the
maximum applicable term of probation or imprisonment,
whichever is greater. Unless otherwise specified, payment of a
fine shall be due immediately.
    (d) If a fine for a violation of this Act is imposed on an
organization, it is the duty of each individual authorized to
make disbursements of the assets of the organization to pay the
fine from assets of the organization.
    (e) (1) A defendant who has been sentenced to pay a fine,
and who has paid part but not all of such fine, may petition
the court for an extension of the time for payment or
modification of the method of payment.
        (2) The court may grant a petition made pursuant to
    this subsection if it finds that:
            (i) the circumstances that warranted payment by
        the time or method specified no longer exist; or
            (ii) it is otherwise unjust to require payment of
        the fine by the time or method specified.
 
    Section 25. Distribution of proceeds of fines.
    (a) The proceeds of all fines received under the provisions
of this Act shall be transmitted to and deposited in the
treasurer's office at the level of government as follows:
        (1) If the seizure was made by a combination of law
    enforcement personnel representing differing units of
    local government, the court levying the fine shall
    equitably allocate 50% of the fine among these units of
    local government and shall allocate 50% to the county
    general corporate fund. In the event that the seizure was
    made by law enforcement personnel representing a unit of
    local government from a municipality where the number of
    inhabitants exceeds 2 million, the court levying the fine
    shall allocate 100% of the fine to that unit of local
    government. If the seizure was made by a combination of law
    enforcement personnel representing differing units of
    local government, and at least one of those units
    represents a municipality where the number of inhabitants
    exceeds 2 million, the court shall equitably allocate 100%
    of the proceeds of the fines received among the differing
    units of local government.
        (2) If such seizure was made by State law enforcement
    personnel, then the court shall allocate 50% to the State
    treasury and 50% to the county general corporate fund.
        (3) If a State law enforcement agency in combination
    with a law enforcement agency or agencies of a unit or
    units of local government conducted the seizure, the court
    shall equitably allocate 50% of the fines to or among the
    law enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of
    local government which conducted the seizure and shall
    allocate 50% to the county general corporate fund.
    (b) The proceeds of all fines allocated to the law
enforcement agency or agencies of the unit or units of local
government pursuant to subsection (a) shall be made available
to that law enforcement agency as expendable receipts for use
in the enforcement of laws regulating public corruption and
other laws. The proceeds of fines awarded to the State treasury
shall be deposited in the State Asset Forfeiture Fund. Monies
from this Fund may be used by the Department of State Police in
the enforcement of laws regulating public corruption and other
laws; and all other monies shall be paid into the General
Revenue Fund in the State treasury.
 
    Section 30. Preventing and restraining violations.
    (a) The circuit courts of the State shall have jurisdiction
to prevent and restrain violations of this Act by issuing
appropriate orders, including, but not limited to: ordering any
person to divest himself of any interest, direct or indirect,
in any enterprise; imposing reasonable restrictions on the
future activities or investment of any person, including, but
not limited to, prohibiting any person from engaging in the
same type of endeavor as the enterprise engaged in, the
activities of which affect business in the State of Illinois;
or ordering dissolution or reorganization of any enterprise,
making due provision for the rights of innocent persons.
    (b) The Attorney General or the State's Attorney may
institute proceedings under this Section. In any action brought
by the State of Illinois under this Section, the court shall
proceed as soon as practicable to the hearing and determination
thereof. Pending that determination, the court may at any time
enter such temporary restraining orders, preliminary or
permanent injunctions, or prohibitions, or take such other
actions including the acceptance of satisfactory performance
bonds by a defendant, as it shall deem proper.
    (c) Any person directly injured in his business, person or
property by reason of a violation of this Act may sue the
violator therefor in any appropriate circuit court and shall
recover threefold the damages he or she sustains and the cost
of the action, including a reasonable attorney's fee.
    (d) A final judgment entered in favor of the People of the
State of Illinois in any criminal proceeding brought under this
Act shall estop the defendant in the criminal case from denying
the essential allegations of the criminal offense in any
subsequent civil proceeding brought under this Act.
 
    Section 35. Venue. Any civil action or proceeding under
this Act against any person may be instituted in the circuit
court for any county in which such person resides, is found,
has an agent, transacts his or her affairs, or in which
property that is the subject of these proceedings is located.
 
    Section 40. Intent. It is the intent of the General
Assembly that this Act be liberally construed so as to effect
the purposes of this Act and be construed in accordance with
similar provisions contained in the Narcotics Profit
Forfeiture Act.
 
    Section 45. Severability. If any provision of this Act or
the application thereof to any person or circumstance is
invalid, such invalidation shall not affect other provisions or
applications of the Act which can be given effect without the
invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
 
    Section 50. The Election Code is amended by changing
Section 9-8.10 as follows:
 
    (10 ILCS 5/9-8.10)
    Sec. 9-8.10. Use of political committee and other reporting
organization funds.
    (a) A political committee, or organization subject to
Section 9-7.5, shall not make expenditures:
        (1) In violation of any law of the United States or of
    this State.
        (2) Clearly in excess of the fair market value of the
    services, materials, facilities, or other things of value
    received in exchange.
        (3) For satisfaction or repayment of any debts other
    than loans made to the committee or to the public official
    or candidate on behalf of the committee or repayment of
    goods and services purchased by the committee under a
    credit agreement. Nothing in this Section authorizes the
    use of campaign funds to repay personal loans. The
    repayments shall be made by check written to the person who
    made the loan or credit agreement. The terms and conditions
    of any loan or credit agreement to a committee shall be set
    forth in a written agreement, including but not limited to
    the method and amount of repayment, that shall be executed
    by the chairman or treasurer of the committee at the time
    of the loan or credit agreement. The loan or agreement
    shall also set forth the rate of interest for the loan, if
    any, which may not substantially exceed the prevailing
    market interest rate at the time the agreement is executed.
        (4) For the satisfaction or repayment of any debts or
    for the payment of any expenses relating to a personal
    residence. Campaign funds may not be used as collateral for
    home mortgages.
        (5) For clothing or personal laundry expenses, except
    clothing items rented by the public official or candidate
    for his or her own use exclusively for a specific
    campaign-related event, provided that committees may
    purchase costumes, novelty items, or other accessories
    worn primarily to advertise the candidacy.
        (6) For the travel expenses of any person unless the
    travel is necessary for fulfillment of political,
    governmental, or public policy duties, activities, or
    purposes.
        (7) For membership or club dues charged by
    organizations, clubs, or facilities that are primarily
    engaged in providing health, exercise, or recreational
    services; provided, however, that funds received under
    this Article may be used to rent the clubs or facilities
    for a specific campaign-related event.
        (8) In payment for anything of value or for
    reimbursement of any expenditure for which any person has
    been reimbursed by the State or any person. For purposes of
    this item (8), a per diem allowance is not a reimbursement.
        (9) For the purchase of or installment payment for a
    motor vehicle unless the political committee can
    demonstrate that purchase of a motor vehicle is more
    cost-effective than leasing a motor vehicle as permitted
    under this item (9). A political committee may lease or
    purchase and insure, maintain, and repair a motor vehicle
    if the vehicle will be used primarily for campaign purposes
    or for the performance of governmental duties. A committee
    shall not make expenditures for use of the vehicle for
    non-campaign or non-governmental purposes. Persons using
    vehicles not purchased or leased by a political committee
    may be reimbursed for actual mileage for the use of the
    vehicle for campaign purposes or for the performance of
    governmental duties. The mileage reimbursements shall be
    made at a rate not to exceed the standard mileage rate
    method for computation of business expenses under the
    Internal Revenue Code.
        (10) Directly for an individual's tuition or other
    educational expenses, except for governmental or political
    purposes directly related to a candidate's or public
    official's duties and responsibilities.
        (11) For payments to a public official or candidate or
    his or her family member unless for compensation for
    services actually rendered by that person. The provisions
    of this item (11) do not apply to expenditures by a
    political committee in an aggregate amount not exceeding
    the amount of funds reported to and certified by the State
    Board or county clerk as available as of June 30, 1998, in
    the semi-annual report of contributions and expenditures
    filed by the political committee for the period concluding
    June 30, 1998.
    (b) The Board shall have the authority to investigate, upon
receipt of a verified complaint, violations of the provisions
of this Section. The Board may levy a fine on any person who
knowingly makes expenditures in violation of this Section and
on any person who knowingly makes a malicious and false
accusation of a violation of this Section. The Board may act
under this subsection only upon the affirmative vote of at
least 5 of its members. The fine shall not exceed $500 for each
expenditure of $500 or less and shall not exceed the amount of
the expenditure plus $500 for each expenditure greater than
$500. The Board shall also have the authority to render rulings
and issue opinions relating to compliance with this Section.
    (c) Nothing in this Section prohibits the expenditure of
funds of (i) a political committee controlled by an
officeholder or by a candidate or (ii) an organization subject
to Section 9-7.5 to defray the customary and reasonable
expenses of an officeholder in connection with the performance
of governmental and public service functions.
    (d) Nothing in this Section prohibits the funds of a
political committee which is controlled by a person convicted
of a violation of any of the offenses listed in subsection (a)
of Section 10 of the Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act
from being forfeited to the State under Section 15 of the
Public Corruption Profit Forfeiture Act.
(Source: P.A. 93-615, eff. 11-19-03; 93-685, eff. 7-8-04.)
 
    Section 55. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
Section 5.755 as follows:
 
    (30 ILCS 105/5.755 new)
    Sec. 5.755. The State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor
Anti-Corruption Fund.
 
    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
1, 2011.

Effective Date: 1/1/2011