SB3295 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 18082 JLS 33275 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB3295

Introduced 2/15/2018, by Sen. Michael E. Hastings

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

735 ILCS 5/1-109

from Ch. 110, par. 1-109

Amends the Code of Civil Procedure regarding a pleading or other document verified by certification. Provides that the pleading or other document may be used in the same manner as though sworn under oath without any further requirement that the document be sworn before an authorized person.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning civil law.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended by changing Section 1-109 as follows:

(735 ILCS 5/1-109) (from Ch. 110, par. 1-109)

Sec. 1-109. Verification by certification. Unless otherwise expressly provided by rule of the Supreme Court, whenever in this Code any complaint, petition, answer, reply, bill of particulars, answer to interrogatories, affidavit, return or proof of service, or other document or pleading filed in any court of this State is required or permitted to be verified, or made, sworn to or verified under oath, such requirement or permission is hereby defined to include a certification of such pleading, affidavit or other document under penalty of perjury as provided in this Section.

Whenever any such pleading, affidavit or other document is so certified, the several matters stated shall be stated positively or upon information and belief only, according to the fact. The person or persons having knowledge of the matters stated in a pleading, affidavit or other document certified in accordance with this Section shall subscribe to a certification in substantially the following form: Under penalties as provided by law pursuant to Section 1-109 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the undersigned certifies that the statements set forth in this instrument are true and correct, except as to matters therein stated to be on information and belief and as to such matters the undersigned certifies as aforesaid that he verily believes the same to be true.

Any pleading, affidavit, or other document certified in accordance with this Section may be used in the same manner and with the same force and effect as though subscribed and sworn to under oath, and there is no further requirement that the pleading, affidavit, or other document be sworn before an authorized person.

Any person who makes a false statement, material to the issue or point in question, which he does not believe to be true, in any pleading, affidavit or other document certified by such person in accordance with this Section shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony.

(Source: P.A. 83-916.)