PERSONNEL&CLAIMS-PRISONERS

Amends the Personnel Code. Establishes a preference in an entrance examination of 5 points 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 Court of Claims Act. Grants the court exclusive jurisdiction over claims for time unjustly served when the person was wrongfully accused of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned 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 for which he or she was imprisoned (in addition to jurisdiction when the person received a pardon by the Governor stating that such pardon is issued on the ground of innocence of the crime for which he or she was imprisoned). Increases the maximum statutory awards to a person released from prison because of these factors. Effective immediately.