SB 300 - This act allows each court to decline to exercise its jurisdiction over a cause of action accruing outside the circuit in which the court is located, if there is a more convenient forum in which the case could have been brought. In determining whether to decline jurisdiction, the court shall look at the following factors: 1) place where the cause of action accrued; 2) location of witnesses; 3) residence of parties;

4) connection between where the cause of action accrued and the court; 5) access by the public to the case; and 6) availability of an alternate forum.

If a suit is dismissed to another court, the plaintiff has additional time to refile the suit if the statute of limitations has run after such dismissal.

This act is similar to SB 774 from 1996.

JAMES KLAHR