SB2955 EngrossedLRB098 17134 HEP 52221 b

1    AN ACT concerning civil law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Probate Act of 1975 is amended by changing
5Sections 2-6.2 and 2-6.6 as follows:
 
6    (755 ILCS 5/2-6.2)
7    Sec. 2-6.2. Financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect of an
8elderly person or a person with a disability.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Abuse" means any offense described in Section 12-21 or
11subsection (b) of Section 12-4.4a of the Criminal Code of 1961
12or the Criminal Code of 2012.
13    "Financial exploitation" means any offense or act
14described or defined in Section 16-1.3 or 17-56 of the Criminal
15Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012, and, in the context
16of civil proceedings, the taking, use, or other
17misappropriation of the assets or resources of an elderly
18person or a person with a disability contrary to law,
19including, but not limited to, misappropriation of assets or
20resources by undue influence, breach of a fiduciary
21relationship, fraud, deception, extortion, and conversion.
22    "Neglect" means any offense described in Section 12-19 or
23subsection (a) of Section 12-4.4a of the Criminal Code of 1961

 

 

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1or the Criminal Code of 2012.
2    (b) Persons convicted of financial exploitation, abuse, or
3neglect of an elderly person or a person with a disability or
4persons who have been found by a preponderance of the evidence
5to be civilly liable for financial exploitation shall not
6receive any property, benefit, or other interest by reason of
7the death of that elderly person or person with a disability,
8whether as heir, legatee, beneficiary, survivor, appointee,
9claimant under Section 18-1.1, or in any other capacity and
10whether the property, benefit, or other interest passes
11pursuant to any form of title registration, testamentary or
12nontestamentary instrument, intestacy, renunciation, or any
13other circumstance. Except as provided in subsection (f) of
14this Section, the The property, benefit, or other interest
15shall pass as if the person convicted of the financial
16exploitation, abuse, or neglect or person found civilly liable
17for financial exploitation died before the decedent, provided
18that with respect to joint tenancy property the interest
19possessed prior to the death by the person convicted of the
20financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect shall not be
21diminished by the application of this Section. Notwithstanding
22the foregoing, a person convicted of financial exploitation,
23abuse, or neglect of an elderly person or a person with a
24disability or a person who has been found by a preponderance of
25the evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation
26shall be entitled to receive property, a benefit, or an

 

 

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1interest in any capacity and under any circumstances described
2in this subsection (b) if it is demonstrated by clear and
3convincing evidence that the victim of that offense knew of the
4conviction or finding of civil liability and subsequent to the
5conviction or finding of civil liability expressed or ratified
6his or her intent to transfer the property, benefit, or
7interest to the person convicted of financial exploitation,
8abuse, or neglect of an elderly person or a person with a
9disability or the person found by a preponderance of the
10evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation in any
11manner contemplated by this subsection (b).
12    (c)(1) The holder of any property subject to the provisions
13of this Section shall not be liable for distributing or
14releasing the property to the person convicted of financial
15exploitation, abuse, or neglect of an elderly person or a
16person with a disability or the person who has been found by a
17preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for
18financial exploitation if the distribution or release occurs
19prior to the conviction or finding of civil liability.
20    (2) If the holder is a financial institution, trust
21company, trustee, or similar entity or person, the holder shall
22not be liable for any distribution or release of the property,
23benefit, or other interest to the person convicted of a
24violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or
25subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code
26of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or the person who has been

 

 

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1found by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable
2for financial exploitation unless the holder knowingly
3distributes or releases the property, benefit, or other
4interest to the person so convicted or found civilly liable
5after first having received actual written notice of the
6conviction in sufficient time to act upon the notice.
7    (d) If the holder of any property subject to the provisions
8of this Section knows that a potential beneficiary has been
9convicted of financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect of an
10elderly person or a person with a disability or has been found
11by a preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for
12financial exploitation within the scope of this Section, the
13holder shall fully cooperate with law enforcement authorities
14and judicial officers in connection with any investigation of
15the financial exploitation, abuse, or neglect. If the holder is
16a person or entity that is subject to regulation by a
17regulatory agency pursuant to the laws of this or any other
18state or pursuant to the laws of the United States, including
19but not limited to the business of a financial institution,
20corporate fiduciary, or insurance company, then such person or
21entity shall not be deemed to be in violation of this Section
22to the extent that privacy laws and regulations applicable to
23such person or entity prevent it from voluntarily providing law
24enforcement authorities or judicial officers with information.
25    (e) A civil action against a person for financial
26exploitation may be brought by an interested person, pursuant

 

 

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1to this Section, after the death of the victim or during the
2lifetime of the victim if the victim is adjudicated disabled. A
3guardian is under no duty to bring a civil action under this
4subsection during the ward's lifetime, but may do so if the
5guardian believes it is in the best interests of the ward.
6    (f) The court may, in its discretion, consider such facts
7and circumstances as it deems appropriate to allow the person
8found civilly liable for financial exploitation to receive a
9reduction in interest or benefit rather than no interest or
10benefit as stated under subsection (b) of this Section.
11(Source: P.A. 96-1551, Article 1, Section 995, eff. 7-1-11;
1296-1551, Article 10, Section 10-155, eff. 7-1-11; 97-1109, eff.
131-1-13; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
14    (755 ILCS 5/2-6.6)
15    Sec. 2-6.6. Person convicted of or found civilly liable for
16certain offenses against the elderly or a person with a
17disability disabled.
18    (a) A person who is convicted of a violation of Section
1912-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of
20Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal
21Code of 2012 or a person who has been found by a preponderance
22of the evidence to be civilly liable for financial
23exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of
24this Act, may not receive any property, benefit, or other
25interest by reason of the death of the victim of that offense,

 

 

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1whether as heir, legatee, beneficiary, joint tenant, tenant by
2the entirety, survivor, appointee, or in any other capacity and
3whether the property, benefit, or other interest passes
4pursuant to any form of title registration, testamentary or
5nontestamentary instrument, intestacy, renunciation, or any
6other circumstance. Except as provided in subsection (f) of
7this Section, the The property, benefit, or other interest
8shall pass as if the person convicted of a violation of Section
912-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of
10Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal
11Code of 2012 or the person found by a preponderance of the
12evidence to be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as
13defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, died
14before the decedent; provided that with respect to joint
15tenancy property or property held in tenancy by the entirety,
16the interest possessed prior to the death by the person
17convicted or found civilly liable may not be diminished by the
18application of this Section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
19person convicted of a violation of Section 12-19, 12-21,
2016-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a,
21of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or a
22person who has been found by a preponderance of the evidence to
23be civilly liable for financial exploitation, as defined in
24subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, shall be entitled
25to receive property, a benefit, or an interest in any capacity
26and under any circumstances described in this Section if it is

 

 

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1demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the victim
2of that offense knew of the conviction or finding of civil
3liability and subsequent to the conviction or finding of civil
4liability expressed or ratified his or her intent to transfer
5the property, benefit, or interest to the person convicted of a
6violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or
7subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code
8of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or the person found by a
9preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for
10financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section
112-6.2 of this Act, in any manner contemplated by this Section.
12    (b) The holder of any property subject to the provisions of
13this Section is not liable for distributing or releasing the
14property to the person convicted of violating Section 12-19,
1512-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or subsection (a) or (b) of Section
1612-4.4a, of the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of
172012 or to the person found by a preponderance of the evidence
18to be civilly liable for financial exploitation as defined in
19subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act.
20    (c) If the holder is a financial institution, trust
21company, trustee, or similar entity or person, the holder shall
22not be liable for any distribution or release of the property,
23benefit, or other interest to the person convicted of a
24violation of Section 12-19, 12-21, 16-1.3, or 17-56, or
25subsection (a) or (b) of Section 12-4.4a, of the Criminal Code
26of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or person found by a

 

 

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1preponderance of the evidence to be civilly liable for
2financial exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section
32-6.2 of this Act, unless the holder knowingly distributes or
4releases the property, benefit, or other interest to the person
5so convicted or found civilly liable after first having
6received actual written notice of the conviction or finding of
7civil liability in sufficient time to act upon the notice.
8    (d) The Department of State Police shall have access to
9State of Illinois databases containing information that may
10help in the identification or location of persons convicted of
11or found civilly liable for the offenses enumerated in this
12Section. Interagency agreements shall be implemented,
13consistent with security and procedures established by the
14State agency and consistent with the laws governing the
15confidentiality of the information in the databases.
16Information shall be used only for administration of this
17Section.
18    (e) A civil action against a person for financial
19exploitation, as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of
20this Act, may be brought by an interested person, pursuant to
21this Section, after the death of the victim or during the
22lifetime of the victim if the victim is adjudicated disabled. A
23guardian is under no duty to bring a civil action under this
24subsection during the ward's lifetime, but may do so if the
25guardian believes it is in the best interests of the ward.
26    (f) The court may, in its discretion, consider such facts

 

 

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1and circumstances as it deems appropriate to allow the person
2convicted or found civilly liable for financial exploitation,
3as defined in subsection (a) of Section 2-6.2 of this Act, to
4receive a reduction in interest or benefit rather than no
5interest or benefit as stated under subsection (a) of this
6Section.
7(Source: P.A. 96-1551, Article 1, Section 955, eff. 7-1-11;
896-1551, Article 10, Section 10-155, eff. 7-1-11; 97-1109, eff.
91-1-13; 97-1150, eff. 1-25-13.)
 
10    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
11becoming law.