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Public Act 91-0940
SB1975 Enrolled LRB9115007REdvB
AN ACT concerning land claims.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The Attorney General Act is amended by adding
Section 4e as follows:
(15 ILCS 205/4e new)
Sec. 4e. Recovery of lands; payment of legal fees. The
Attorney General may authorize, from funds available for that
purpose, the payment or reimbursement of reasonable and
appropriate legal fees incurred by any person, unit of local
government, or school district in defending any litigation,
action, or proceeding brought to recover lands within the
State from such person, unit of local government, or school
district, if the litigation, action, or proceeding is based
upon an allegation that the title or a beneficial interest in
the title is derived from an invalid federal land patent and
the Attorney General finds that a loss of State sovereignty
or jurisdiction over those lands or liability for rents or
damages may result if the land patent is held to be invalid.
The hourly rate for legal fees paid or reimbursed under this
Section shall not exceed the maximum hourly rate customarily
paid to Special Assistant Attorneys General. The total
amount of legal fees paid or reimbursed under this Section
shall not exceed $100,000. The payments or reimbursements
may be made from moneys appropriated to the Attorney General
for fiscal year 2001 for contractual services,
notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. The Attorney
General must, no later than April 15, 2001, submit to the
General Assembly a detailed, written report indicating which
fees the Attorney General has or intends to pay or reimburse
and the basis for making the payment or reimbursement. This
Section is repealed on July 1, 2001.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.
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