Rep. Lou Lang
Filed: 4/28/2006
 
 

 




 

 		












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AMENDMENT TO SENATE BILL 931




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    AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend Senate Bill 931, AS AMENDED, 
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with reference to page and line numbers of House Amendment No. 
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1, on page 7, line 22, after "45", by inserting "and adding 
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Section 65.80"; and
 
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on page 10, immediately below line 8, by inserting  the 
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following:

 
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    "(110 ILCS 947/65.80 new)

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    Sec. 65.80. Forensic science grant program.
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    (a)  In order to encourage graduate students to enter the 
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field
of forensic science and continue their careers as 
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forensic scientists with the Department of State Police in one 
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of the specialty areas of forensic sciences  that is considered 
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a shortage specialty area, the Commission shall, subject to 
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appropriation, establish and annually administer a forensic 
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science grant program.
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    (b) A qualified applicant may receive a maximum grant 
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amount of $30,000 to cover those expenses related to the 
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forensic science program in which he or she is enrolled.
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    (c)  The Commission shall, on an annual basis, receive and 
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consider applications for grant assistance under the program.  
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An applicant is eligible for a grant under the program if the 
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Commission finds that the applicant:
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        (1)  is a United States citizen or permanent resident;
 


 






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        (2)  is a resident of Illinois or will be a resident
of 
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    Illinois upon completion of the forensic science program;
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        (3)  is enrolled on a full-time basis in a minimum 
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    one-year program that combines graduate education with 
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    training in a specific forensic discipline in a manner 
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    equivalent to the Department of State Police's new examiner 
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    training so as to prepare him or her to do casework; and
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        (4) meets or will meet all of the evaluation criteria 
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    required by the Department of State Police for employment.
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    (d)  Prior to receiving grant assistance for any academic

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year, each recipient shall be required by the Commission to 
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sign an agreement under which the recipient pledges to seek 
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employment as a forensic scientist with the Department of State 
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Police and, if such employment is obtained, to continue as an 
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employee of the Department of State Police for a minimum period 
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of 4 years. If a recipient of a grant under this Section fails 
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to fulfill the employment obligation, the Commission shall 
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require that the recipient repay the amount of the grant award, 
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prorated according to the fraction of the obligation not 
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completed, plus interest at a rate of 5% and, if applicable, 
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reasonable collection fees, as established by the Commission.
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    (e)  A recipient of a grant award under this Section shall 
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not be in violation of the agreement entered into pursuant to 
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subsection (d) of this Section if
the Department of State 
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Police is unable to offer employment to the recipient.  The 
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Commission may adopt rules relating to other conditions under 
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which a recipient is not considered to be in violation of the 
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agreement entered into pursuant to subsection (d) of this 
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Section.  Any extension of the period during which the 
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employment requirement under subsection (d) of this Section 
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must be fulfilled shall be subject to the limitations of 
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duration established by the Commission.
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    (f)  The Commission and the Department of State Police shall 
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adopt all rules that are necessary for the implementation and 
 


 






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administration of this Section.".