(725 ILCS 173/15)

Sec. 15. Funding. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, shall adopt rules for the implementation of the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program. Assistance shall be subject to the following limitations:

(a) Funds shall be limited to payment of the following:

(1) emergency or temporary living costs;

(2) moving expenses;

(3) rent;

(3.5) utilities;

(4) security deposits for rent and utilities;

(5) other appropriate expenses of relocation or transition;

(6) mental health treatment; and

(7) lost wage assistance.

(b) Approval of applications made by State's Attorneys shall be conditioned upon county funding for costs at a level of at least 25%, unless this requirement is waived by the administrator, in accordance with adopted rules, for good cause shown.

(c) Counties providing assistance consistent with the limitations in this Act may apply for reimbursement of up to 75% of their costs.

(d) No more than 50% of funding available in any given fiscal year may be used for costs associated with any single county.

(d-5) Funds may also be requested by local law enforcement agencies and, notwithstanding subsection (a), used to establish local violent crime witness protection programs.

(e) Before the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority distributes moneys from the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program Fund as provided in this Section, it shall retain 5% of those moneys for administrative purposes.

(f) Direct reimbursement is allowed in whole or in part.

(g) Implementation of the Violent Crime Witness Protection Program is contingent upon and subject to there being made sufficient appropriations for implementation of that program.

(Source: P.A. 102-756, eff. 5-10-22.)