(735 ILCS 5/Art. XX heading)
(735 ILCS 5/20-101) (from Ch. 110, par. 20-101)
Sec. 20-101. As used in this Article:
(1) "Compensation, benefits or remuneration" includes regular compensation, overtime compensation, vacation compensation, deferred compensation, sick pay, disability pay, sick leave, disability leave, medical, dental, optical or other health benefits, pension or retirement benefits or any other pay, compensation, benefits, or any other remuneration.
(2) "Person" includes any firm, corporation, association, agency, institution or other legal entity, as well as any natural person.
(3) "Local governmental unit" means any unit of local government or school district.
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
(735 ILCS 5/20-102) (from Ch. 110, par. 20-102)
Sec. 20-102. Any person who has received from the State or from any local governmental unit compensation, benefits or remuneration by means of a false or fraudulent record, statement, or claim or other willful misrepresentation, or by his failure to notify the State or local governmental unit of a change in his status as may be required by the State or local governmental unit, or by other fraudulent device, shall be answerable to the State or local governmental unit, as the case may be, for refunding the entire amount of such compensation, benefits or remuneration received. If the refund is not made, it shall be recoverable in a civil action from the person who received the compensation, benefits or remuneration, or from anyone who knowingly aided such person in obtaining the compensation, benefits or remuneration.
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
(735 ILCS 5/20-103) (from Ch. 110, par. 20-103)
Sec. 20-103. Any person who by means of a false record, statement or representation, or by willful concealment of any material fact, or by other fraudulent scheme or device on behalf of himself, his dependents or others, knowingly obtains from the State or local governmental unit compensation, benefits or remuneration to which he is not entitled, or in a greater amount than that to which he is entitled, shall be liable for full repayment of such compensation, benefits or remuneration received to which the person was not entitled. In addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court shall impose civil penalties consisting of interest on the amount of the compensation, benefits or remuneration received to which the person was not entitled at the maximum legal rate for interest on judgments in effect on the date the payment was made to such person for the period beginning on the date upon which payment was made to the date upon which repayment is made; and may impose either of the following penalties: (1) an amount not to exceed 3 times the amount of such compensation, benefits or remuneration to which the person was not entitled; or (2) an amount not to exceed $2,000 for each instance that the person used any fraudulent scheme or device to obtain compensation, benefits or remuneration to which he is not entitled, whichever penalty the court deems more appropriate. Except as provided by Section 20-105, upon entry of a judgment for repayment of such compensation, benefits or remuneration, or for any civil penalties assessed by the court, a lien shall attach to all property and assets of such person until the judgment is satisfied, subject to the exemptions otherwise applying to the real and personal property of judgement debtors.
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)
(735 ILCS 5/20-104) (from Ch. 110, par. 20-104)
Sec. 20-104. (a) Before any action is instituted pursuant to this Act, the State or local governmental unit shall make a good faith attempt to collect amounts owed to it by using informal procedures and methods. Civil recoveries provided for in this Article shall be recoverable only: (1) in actions on behalf of the State, by the Attorney General; (2) in actions on behalf of a municipality with a population over 500,000, by the corporation counsel of such municipality; and (3) in actions on behalf of any other local governmental unit, by counsel designated by the local government unit or, if so requested by the local governmental unit and the state's attorney so agrees, by the state's attorney. However, nothing in clause (3) of this subsection (a) shall affect agreements made pursuant to the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor's Act. If the state's attorney of a county brings an action on behalf of another unit of local government pursuant to this Section, the county shall be reimbursed by the unit of local government in an amount mutually agreed upon before the action is initiated.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Section, any private citizen residing within the boundaries of the governmental unit affected may bring an action to recover the damages authorized in this Article on behalf of such governmental unit if: (a) the citizen has sent a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the appropriate government official stating his intention to file suit for recovery under this Article and (b) the appropriate governmental official has not, within 60 days of the date of delivery on the citizen's return receipt, either instituted an action for recovery or sent notice to the citizen by certified mail, return receipt requested, that the official has arranged for a settlement with the party alleged to have illegally obtained the compensation or that the official intends to commence suit within 60 days of the date of the notice. A denial by the official of the liability of the party alleged liable by the citizen, failure to have actually arranged for a settlement as stated, or failure to commence a suit within the designated period after having stated the intention in the notice to do so shall also permit the citizen to commence the action.
For purposes of this subsection (b), "appropriate government official" shall mean: (1) the Attorney General, where the government unit alleged damaged is the State; (2) the corporation counsel where the government unit alleged damaged is a municipality with a population of over 500,000; and (3) the chief executive officer of any other local government unit where that unit is alleged damaged.
Any private citizen commencing an action in compliance with this subsection which is reasonable and commenced in good faith shall be entitled to recover court costs and litigation expenses, including reasonable attorney's fees, from any defendant found liable under this Article.
(Source: P.A. 102-558, eff. 8-20-21.)
(735 ILCS 5/20-105) (from Ch. 110, par. 20-105)
Sec. 20-105. Certain rights not affected. No judgment entered pursuant to this Article shall affect the rights of any bona fide purchaser, mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lien holder arising prior to the date on which a transcript, certified copy or memorandum of such judgment is filed in the office of the recorder of deeds or registrar of titles in the county in which real estate subject to the lien is located.
(Source: P.A. 84-1462.)