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    AN ACT concerning civil law.

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


 
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    Section 5. The Code of Civil Procedure is amended  by adding 
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Section 2-807 as follows:
 
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    (735 ILCS 5/2-807  new)
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    Sec. 2-807. Residual funds in a common fund created in a 
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class action.
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    (a) Definitions. As used in this Section:
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    "Eligible organization" means a not-for-profit 
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organization that:
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        (i) has been in existence for no less than 3 years;
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        (ii) has been tax exempt for no less than 3 years from

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    the payment of federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the 
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    Internal
Revenue Code;
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        (iii) is in compliance with registration and filing 
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    requirements
applicable pursuant to the Charitable Trust 
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    Act and the Solicitation for
Charity Act; and
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        (iv) has a principal purpose of promoting or providing 
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    services
that would be eligible for funding under the 
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    Illinois Equal Justice Act.
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    "Residual funds" means all unclaimed funds, including 
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uncashed checks or other unclaimed payments, that remain in a 
 


 






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common fund created in a class action after court-approved  
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payments are made for the following:
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        (i) class member claims;
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        (ii) attorney's fees and costs; and
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        (iii) any reversions to a defendant agreed upon by the 
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    parties.
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    (b) Settlement. An order approving a proposed settlement of 
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a class action that results in the creation of a common fund 
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for the benefit of the class shall, consistent with the other 
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Sections of this Part, establish a process for the 
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administration of the settlement and shall provide for the 
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distribution of any residual funds to one or more eligible 
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organizations, except that up to 50% of the residual funds may 
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be distributed to one or more other nonprofit charitable 
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organizations or other organizations that serve the public good 
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if the court finds there is good cause to approve such a 
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distribution as part of a settlement.
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    (c) Judgment. A judgment in favor of the plaintiff in a 
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class action that results in the creation of a common fund for 
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the benefit of the class shall provide for the distribution of 
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any residual funds to one or more eligible organizations.
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    (d) State and its political subdivisions. This Section does 
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not apply to any class action lawsuit against the State of 
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Illinois or any of its political subdivisions.
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    (e) Application. This Section applies to all actions 
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commenced on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act 
 


 






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of the 95th General Assembly and to all actions pending on the 
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effective date of this amendatory Act of the 95th General 
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Assembly.
 
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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 
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2008.