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SB 3343

COURTS-REMOTE ACCESS

104th Regular Session Introduced by Graciela Guzmán

SB 3343 creates a 17-member task force to study and reduce barriers to accessible remote court document filing for all Illinois residents, especially vulnerable groups.

Rule 3-9(a) / Re-referred to Assignments
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Bill Summary · SB 3343

Bill Summary: SB 3343 (104th General Assembly, Illinois)

Title

COURTS-REMOTE ACCESS

Purpose and Intent

SB 3343 creates a Remote Court Filing Task Force within the Illinois Access to Justice Act to study and improve the accessibility and usability of remote filing of court documents across Illinois. The bill emphasizes ensuring remote filing is user-friendly for all residents, with particular attention to pro se litigants and circumstances such as emergencies, language barriers, disabilities, poverty, and low literacy. The Task Force is tasked with identifying barriers, evaluating solutions, and making recommendations to reduce obstacles to remote filing statewide.

Key Provisions

Creation and Scope

  • Establishes the Remote Filing Task Force (17 members).
  • Purpose: ensure electronic or remote filing methods are accessible to all Illinoisans, including during emergencies.
  • The Task Force must research and evaluate current remote filing capabilities and barriers, particularly for:
    • Pro se litigants
    • People with non-English primary languages
    • People in crisis
    • People with disabilities
    • People with low literacy

Deliverables

  • The Task Force must make recommendations to reduce barriers and improve statewide access and usability of remote filing.
  • A formal report detailing findings and recommendations must be submitted to:
    • The Illinois Supreme Court
    • The General Assembly by October 1, 2027
  • The Task Force dissolves on October 2, 2027.

Membership and Appointments

  • 17 members total, appointed as follows:
    • Senate: 2 members (President of the Senate; Senate Minority Leader)
    • House: 2 members (Speaker; House Minority Leader)
    • Governor’s Office: 1 representative
    • Supreme Court: 1 representative (plus 10 total appointed by the Supreme Court)
  • The 10 Supreme Court appointees must include:
    • A representative from a statewide attorney association
    • A representative from an attorney association for a county with population > 5,000,000
    • A representative from a legal aid organization serving people in poverty in a multi-county area
    • A second representative from a poverty-focused legal aid organization serving multiple counties
    • Two representatives of a statewide association representing court clerks
    • A current or retired State court judge
    • A representative from a domestic violence organization affiliated with the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline
    • A representative from an organization advocating for people with disabilities
    • A representative from an organization advocating for immigrant families

Operational Details

  • All members must be adult Illinois residents and serve without compensation.
  • Appointments must be made within 30 days of the Act’s effective date.
  • The Task Force must elect co-chairs with authority over schedules, hearings, and agendas.
  • Circuit court clerks are required to provide relevant data to the Task Force as needed.
  • Administrative support for the Task Force may be provided by the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOC) as directed by the Supreme Court, including data access and collaboration with member organizations.

Effective Date and Timeline

  • Effective immediately upon becoming law.
  • Report due by October 1, 2027.
  • Task Force dissolution: October 2, 2027.

Who Is Affected

  • Illinois litigants, especially:
    • Pro se litigants
    • Individuals with limited English proficiency
    • Persons in crisis or emergency situations
    • People with disabilities
    • Individuals with low literacy
  • Court clerks and Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOC)
  • Legal aid organizations and associations representing attorneys, court clerks, domestic violence advocates, disability advocates, and immigrant families
  • State policymakers and the judiciary as they consider remote filing practices

Significance

  • Addresses barriers to remote court filing and seeks to enhance access to justice through remote technologies.
  • Provides a structured, time-bound approach with stakeholder input and official reporting to influence future policy and practice.

If you’d like, I can compare SB 3343 to current remote filing practices in Illinois or outline potential policy implications once the Task Force’s findings are released.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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