HB 4226

Abstract

Amends the Court Reporters Act. Provides that each court reporter may be required by the chief judge to (rather than shall) take a test to verify his or her proficiency within one year of employment. Senate Floor Amendment No. 1 Adds reference to: 705 ILCS 35/2f from Ch. 37, par. 72.2f 705 ILCS 45/2 from Ch. 37, par. 160.2 Replaces everything after the enacting clause with the engrossed bill with the following changes: Amends the Circuit Courts Act. Provides that vacancies in associate judgeships authorized under specified provisions of the Associate Judges Act occurring on or after June 1, 2023 shall be converted to resident circuit judgeships and shall be allotted in numerical order to subcircuits 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, until there are 11 resident judges to be elected from each of those subcircuits (for a total of 55). Provides that beginning with the 2024 election cycle, the maximum number of former associate judgeship vacancies to be converted to resident circuit judgeships that may to be allotted in an election cycle to Judicial Subcircuits 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 shall be 10 resident circuit judgeships, with each subcircuit allotted no more than 2 resident circuit judgeships per election cycle. Provides that any additional associate judgeship vacancies in excess of the maximum number per election cycle shall not be converted to resident circuit judgeships and shall be filled according to Supreme Court Rule until a vacancy in the associate judgeship occurs. Provides that a vacancy occurs when an associate judge dies, resigns, retires, is removed, or is not reappointed upon expiration of his or her term; a vacancy does not occur at the expiration of a term if the associate judge is reappointed. Defines "election cycle" as the period that begins on the day following the last day to certify judicial vacancies for election at the next general election and ends on the last day to certify judicial vacancies for election at the next general election, as provided in the Election Code. Amends the Associate Judges Act to make conforming changes. Effective immediately.