COURT OF CLAIMS-PRISONERS

Amends the Personnel Code. Establishes a preference in an entrance examination of 5 points for a qualified person who has been wrongfully accused of a crime for which the person was imprisoned in a State prison and a court of competent jurisdiction finds that the evidence that resulted in his or her conviction was erroneous or that new evidence indicates that the person did not commit the crime. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Provides that claims against the State for time unjustly served in State prisons must be automatically heard and payment made within 120 days after the person who unjustly served time is discharged from prison. Provides that the claim may be made if a court finds that the evidence that resulted in the person's conviction was erroneous or that new evidence indicates that the person did not commit the crime for which he or she was convicted (rather than providing that only the issuance of a pardon by the Governor on the grounds of innocence may be the basis of a claim). Increases the maximum statutory awards to a person released from prison because of these factors. Effective immediately.