HB0436 Enrolled LRB096 07997 RCE 18101 b

1     AN ACT concerning finance.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The Department of Commerce and Economic
5 Opportunity Law of the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is
6 amended by adding Section 605-416 as follows:
 
7     (20 ILCS 605/605-416 new)
8     Sec. 605-416. Loans to qualified ex-offenders.
9     (a) The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may
10 establish an ex-offender business ownership grant and loan
11 program. Funding for this program shall come from the
12 Ex-Offender Fund. The Department shall provide grants to
13 organizations and entities that work with ex-offenders and
14 facilitate the reentry of ex-offenders into society.
15 Organizations wishing to participate in the program must
16 present an application to the Department in order to receive
17 funding.
18     (b) Funding distributed from the Ex-Offender Fund may be
19 used only for the following purposes:
20         (1) For the awarding of grants to organizations and
21     entities to provide low interest loans to ex-offenders so
22     that these individuals may start and operate their own
23     businesses that have a positive impact on society. The

 

 

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1     maximum amount of a loan funded by a grant under this
2     Section that an ex-offender may receive is $5,000.
3         (2) For the awarding of grants to entities or
4     organizations assisting ex-offenders, so that individual
5     ex-offenders may develop business plans to start up their
6     own businesses. These grants are to be used for the sole
7     purpose of acquiring a business plan developed by a
8     credible source. In order to receive these grants,
9     qualified ex-offenders must submit an application and
10     provide 50% of the cost to develop the business plan.
11         (3) For the administration costs of the program.
12     (c) For purposes of this Section, "qualified ex-offender"
13 means any person who:
14         (1) is an eligible offender, as defined under Section
15     5-5.5-5 of the Unified Code of Corrections;
16         (2) was sentenced to a period of incarceration in an
17     Illinois adult correctional center; and
18         (3) presents an application and a professional
19     business plan to the organization or entity that is making
20     the loan.
 
21     Section 10. The State Finance Act is amended by adding
22 Section 5.719 as follows:
 
23     (30 ILCS 105/5.719 new)
24     Sec. 5.719. The Ex-Offender Fund.
 

 

 

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1     Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect January
2 1, 2010.