96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
HB0436


 
Introduced 2/4/2009, by Rep. LaShawn K. Ford
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 		













20 ILCS 605/605-416 new






30 ILCS 105/5.719 new










    Amends the Department of Economic Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Creates a loan program for ex-offenders to plan and start their own businesses. Defines terms and sets requirements for loans. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Ex-Offender Fund. Effective January 1, 2010.
















LRB096 07997 RCE 18101 b

















FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
















 


 


A BILL FOR









 











HB0436

LRB096 07997 RCE 18101 b






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    AN ACT concerning finance.

 
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    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
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represented in the General Assembly:


 
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    Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic 
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Opportunity Law of the
Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is 
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amended  by adding Section 605-416 as follows:
 
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    (20 ILCS 605/605-416  new)
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    Sec. 605-416. Loans to qualified ex-offenders.
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    (a)     The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 
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shall be responsible for the distribution of funds for the 
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ex-offender loan program.  Funding for this program shall come 
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from the Ex-Offender Fund.  The Department, if it so chooses, 
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may contract out or provide sub-grants for the administrative 
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services of the program to any organization that works with 
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ex-offenders and their reentry into society.  Organizations 
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wishing to participate in the program must present an 
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application to the Department in order to receive funding.
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    (b)   Funding distributed from the Ex-Offender Fund may be 
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used only  for the following purposes:
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        (1)    For the awarding of low-interest loans, not to 
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    exceed an interest rate of 3%, to ex-offenders so that 
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    these individuals may start and operate their own 
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    businesses that have a positive impact on society.  The 
 


 






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    maximum amount of a loan that an ex-offender may receive 
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    shall not exceed $5,000.
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        (2)    For the awarding of grants to qualified 
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    ex-offenders or to  entities or organizations assisting 
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    ex-offenders, so that individual ex-offenders may develop 
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    a business plan to start up their own business.  These 
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    grants are to be used for the sole purpose of acquiring a 
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    business plan developed by a credible source.  In order to 
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    receive these grants, qualified ex-offenders must submit 
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    an application and provide 50% of the cost to develop the 
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    business plan.
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        (3)    For the administration costs of the program. 
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    (c)    For purposes of this Section, "qualified ex-offender" 
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means any person who:
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        (1)    is an eligible offender, as defined under Section 
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    5-5.5-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections;
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        (2)    was sentenced to a period of incarceration in an 
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    Illinois adult correctional center;
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        (3)    presents to the Department an application and a 
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    professional business plan; and
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        (4)    contributes a minimum of $200 to the Ex-Offender 
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    Fund. 
 
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    Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended  by adding 
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Section 5.719 as follows:
 
 


 






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    (30 ILCS 105/5.719  new)
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    Sec. 5.719. The Ex-Offender Fund.
 

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    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January 
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1, 2010.