Amends the Court of Claims Act. Creates an administrative process for uncontested claims for vendors arising from contracts with the State. Requires a State agency to confirm or reject an uncontested claim that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 30 days after being notified in writing by the Attorney General. Provides that if the State agency does not confirm or reject the claim within that 30-day period, then the State agency forfeits the right to reject or contest the claim. Requires the Comptroller, subject to appropriation, then issue payment to the vendor within 30 days of the court entering such an award. Provides that if the court determines that it is unable to process such an uncontested claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the court must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 30 days after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Provides that if one or more items on a bill or invoice are disapproved, but not the entire bill or invoice, then the portion that is not disapproved must be transmitted to the Comptroller for payment. Changes the filing fees required under the Act as follows: a fee of $15 for a petition seeking more than $500 but less than $10,000; and $35 for a petition seeking more than $10,000 or more. Requires that the court must allow claimants to submit documentation to amend and cure defects. Makes other changes. Authorizes the Court of Claims to adopt rules to implement the Act.
House Committee Amendment No. 1: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Provides these changes to the bill. Provides that a State agency must confirm or reject a claim arising under the Act that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 45 days (instead of 30 days) after being notified in writing of the claim by the Attorney General. Deletes provisions that if the State agency does not confirm or reject the claim within a 30-day period, then the State agency forfeits the right to reject or contest the claim. Provides that if the court determines that it is unable to process such a contractual claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the court must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 45 days (instead of 30 days) after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Requires the court to produce an annual report to the General Assembly on claims arising from lapsed appropriations. Provides that the report shall include data on the number of claims submitted each year, the number of claims resolved, the number and dollar amount of claims paid and pending, the State agencies associated with the lapsed claims, the average length of time from claim submission to resolution for each State agency, and the number and age of unresolved claims that are older than 12 months, by State agency. Makes other changes.
House Floor Amendment No. 2: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts provisions of House Amendment No. 1 with these changes. Provides that a State agency must confirm or reject a claim arising under the Act that is from a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 45 calendar days after being notified in writing of the claim by the Attorney General. If the State agency confirms the claim, then the Court of Claims must enter an award for the claim within 30 calendar days upon being notified. Provides that if the Court of Claims determines that it is unable to process such a contractual claim because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the Court of Claims must notify the vendor in writing of the defect no later than 45 calendar days after the bill or invoice was first submitted. Requires the Court of Claims to confirm receipt of claim to the vendor within 30 calendar days for all claims. Requires the Court of Claims, beginning December 31, 2027, and every December 31st thereafter, to produce an annual report to the General Assembly on claims arising from lapsed appropriations. Provides that the report shall include data on the number of claims submitted each year, the number of claims resolved, the number and dollar amount of claims paid and pending, the State agencies associated with the lapsed claims, the average length of time from claim submission to resolution for each State agency, and the number and age of unresolved claims that are older than 12 months, by State agency. Provides that for claims not covered by the new provisions, the State agency must confirm or reject in writing the allegations in the claim with the Attorney General's office within 90 calendar days of being contacted by the Attorney General; and the Attorney General must notify the claimant of the State agency's decision and file a stipulation or motion with the Court of Claims within 90 calendar days of the State agency confirming or rejecting the claim. Effective July 1, 2027.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 5: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill with the following changes. Requires the State agency to confirm, reject, or identify a claim under the Court of Claims Act that is a lapsed appropriation and valued at less than $2,500 within 60 days after being notified in writing of the claim by the Attorney General. Provides that, if the State agency (instead of the court) determines that it is unable to process a claim under the Act because the bill or invoice contains a defect, the State agency (instead of the court) must notify the vendor and the Attorney General (rather than the vendor only) in writing of the defect no later than 60 calendar days after receiving notice of the claim from the Attorney General's Office (rather 45 days after the bill or invoice was first submitted). Further provides that, for disapproved portions for the claim, the Attorney General (rather than the court) must allow vendors to submit documentation to the Attorney General's Office showing amendments and cured defects (rather than submit documentation to amend and cure defects). Requires a State agency to confirm, reject, or identify a defect within a claim for all other claims arising under the Act that are from lapsed appropriations that are equal to or more than $2,500. Amends the State Prompt Payment Act. Provides that a State agency shall review each bill or invoice within 30 calendar days after its receipt (currently, in a timely manner). Provides that, when a State official or agency responsible for administering a contract receives a bill or invoice from a contractor, that State official or agency shall confirm the date on which the bill or invoice was received within 15 business days of receipt and shall transmit any approved amount to the Comptroller within 30 calendar days of receipt. Amends the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act. Provides that the advice and technical assistance provided to State grant-making agencies by the Governor's Office of Management and Budget shall include an explanation of how to determine if the awardee is eligible for advance payments, reimbursement, or working capital advances. Provides that each State grant-making agency shall specify in each grant agreement whether the applicable payment methodology is advance payment, reimbursement, or working capital advance. Provides that, if advance payment is not the applicable payment methodology, the grant agreement will specify why an alternative payment methodology applies. Sets forth deadlines by which the State grant-making agency shall issue grant agreements after issuing a Notice of State-Issued Award. Makes other changes. Effective July 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 705 ILCS 505/8, 705 ILCS 505/9, 705 ILCS 505/10, 705 ILCS 505/11, 705 ILCS 505/16, 705 ILCS 505/19, 705 ILCS 505/21, 705 ILCS 505/24
Engrossed: 705 ILCS 505/8, 705 ILCS 505/9, 705 ILCS 505/11, 705 ILCS 505/18, 705 ILCS 505/19, 705 ILCS 505/24