Rep. Thaddeus Jones
Filed: 3/28/2019
 
 

 

 

 
10100HB2914ham002LRB101 09876 AWJ 58298 a



1
AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 2914




2    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 2914 by replacing 
3everything after the enacting clause with the following:

 
 
4    "Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended  by 
5adding Section 8-1-19 as follows:
 
6    (65 ILCS 5/8-1-19  new)
7    Sec. 8-1-19. Legal expenses cap.
8    (a) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a 
9municipality may not incur legal expenses in excess of 
10$1,000,000 for a single lawsuit against or by the municipality 
11in a single fiscal year unless the electors of the municipality 
12approve a greater amount of legal expenses after a referendum 
13under subsection (b).
14    (b) Upon the adoption of an ordinance by the city council 
15of the municipality requesting a referendum to incur additional 
16legal expenses for a lawsuit, a referendum, subject to the 
 
 
10100HB2914ham002- 2 -LRB101 09876 AWJ 58298 a

1requirements of Section 16-7 of the Election Code, shall be 
2placed on the ballot for all electors residing in the 
3municipality at the next general election in substantially the 
4following form:
 
5        May the (name of municipality) expend more than the 
6    $1,000,000 statutory cap on legal expenses for the 
7    (current/next) fiscal year regarding (description of 
8    lawsuit)?
 
9    The votes shall be recorded as "Yes" or "No". 
10    (c) This Section does not apply to salaries and benefits 
11paid to attorneys and paralegals who are full-time or part-time 
12employees a municipality.
13    (d) "Legal expenses" do not include a civil judgment or a 
14settlement in a civil action.".