COURT OF CLAIMS-PRISONERS

Amends the Personnel Code. Establishes a preference in the form of an entitlement to appear on the list of those eligible for appointments, if the person otherwise qualifies through testing for a person if: (i) he or she has been discharged from a prison of this State; (ii) he or she has been wrongfully accused of a crime for which he or she was imprisoned; and (iii) either 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 for which he or she was imprisoned or the accused received a pardon from the Governor stating that such pardon is issued on the ground of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned. Amends the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity shall establish an individualized job training and continuing education program for each person who has been discharged from a prison of this State; and who has been wrongfully accused of a crime for which he or she was imprisoned; and whom either 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 for which he or she was imprisoned or the person received a pardon from the Governor stating that such pardon is issued on the ground of innocence of the crime for he or she was imprisoned. Amends the Court of Claims Act. Grants the court exclusive jurisdiction in those cases. Increases the maximum statutory awards to a person released from prison because of these factors. Effective immediately.