House Sponsors: NOVAK. Short description: COURT OF CLAIMS-ABOLISH Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Court of Claims Act and repeals the State Lawsuit Immunity Act. Provides that the Court of Claims is abolished and that the Court of Claims shall transfer to the Circuit Courts all cases pending before the Court of Claims. Provides that other statutory references to the Court of Claims shall be construed as references to the Circuit Court. Effective immediately, except some portions take effect on July 1, 2002. FISCAL NOTE (Court of Claims) The fiscal impact on the Court of Claims would be the elimina- tion of all funding to the Court of Claims. The Court of Claims expended $48.7 million in FY 2000. Grant expenditures to pay awarded claims totaled $47.5 million, $39.2 million of which was GRF. Elimination of the Court of Claims would increase the amount of claims paid by the State of Illinois. The amount of the increase is unknown. The Circuit Court and the Attorney General's Office may be fiscally impacted by this legislation. JUDICIAL NOTE (Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts) There will be a significant increase in judicial workloads as a result of this bill. HB 2256 will increase the number of judges needed in the State, however, it is not possible to determine the number of additional judges needed, because the degree to which the bill would increase litigation against the State of Illinois is unknown. Last action on Bill: SESSION SINE DIE Last action date: JAN-07-2003 Location: House Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 0 SENATE - 0 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status