Senate Sponsors: MYERS,J-NOLAND-WEAVER,S-PHILIP-BURZYNSKI AND O'DANIEL. House Sponsors: MITCHELL,BILL-RIGHTER-HARTKE-CURRY,JULIE-BERNS Short description: INDIAN LAND CLAIMS Synopsis of Bill as introduced: Amends the Attorney General Act. Provides that at the request of the Governor, the Attorney General may designate counsel and pay or reimburse reasonable and appropriate fees and expenses of counsel to provide for the defense of certain actions that (1) relate to the recovery of lands, the title to which originally derives from a federal land patent that is alleged to be invalid, and (2) could result in the loss of State sovereignty or jurisdiction or liability for the payment of certain rents or damages. Amends the State Employee Indemnification Act to authorize the expenditure of appropriations for this purpose. Effective immediately. SENATE AMENDMENT NO. 1. Deletes the amendatory changes to the Attorney General Act. Provides that 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. HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2. Deletes reference to: 5 ILCS 350/2 Further amends the Attorney General Act. Provides that the hourly rate for legal fees paid or reimbursed shall not exceed the maximum hourly rate customarily paid to Special Assistant Attorneys General. Provides that the total amount of legal fees paid or reimbursed shall not exceed $100,000. Provides that payments or reimbursements may be made from moneys appropriated to the Attorney General for fiscal year 2001 for contractual services. Requires the Attorney General to submit, no later than April 15, 2001, to the General Assembly a report indicating which fees the Attorney General has paid or intends to reimburse. Repeals the authorization to pay legal fees on July 1, 2001. Deletes the amendatory changes to the State Employee Indemnification Act. Last action on Bill: PUBLIC ACT.............................. 91-0940 Last action date: 01-02-01 Location: Senate Amendments to Bill: AMENDMENTS ADOPTED: HOUSE - 1 SENATE - 1 END OF INQUIRY Full Text Bill Status