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| Public Act 100-0283 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning criminal law.
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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 Unified Code of Corrections is amended by | ||||
adding Article 12.5 to Chapter III as follows: | ||||
(730 ILCS 5/Ch. III Art. 12.5 heading new) | ||||
ARTICLE 12.5. PRISONER ENTREPRENEUR EDUCATION PROGRAM | ||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-1 new) | ||||
Sec. 3-12.5-1. Short title. This Article may be cited as | ||||
the Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program Law. | ||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-5 new) | ||||
Sec. 3-12.5-5. Purpose; Program. The Prisoner Entrepreneur | ||||
Education
Program shall be established as a 5-year pilot | ||||
project to be
instituted within the Department of Corrections. | ||||
The
goal of the Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program is to
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provide inmates with useful business skills for use after
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release from prison in an effort to reduce recidivism rates for
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self-motivated individuals. The Prisoner Entrepreneur | ||||
Education
Program shall consist of a rigorous curriculum, and | ||||
participants
shall be taught business skills, such as computer | ||||
skills,
budgeting, creating a business plan, public speaking, | ||||
and
realistic goal setting. Inmates who successfully complete | ||
the
Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program shall be awarded a
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Certificate of Completion. | ||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-10 new) | ||
Sec. 3-12.5-10. Selection. Inmates may be selected to
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participate in the pre-release Prisoner Entrepreneur Education | ||
Program only
if all of the following conditions are met: | ||
(1) the inmate is within 3 years of being released
from | ||
custody of the Department of Corrections; | ||
(2) the inmate has not been disciplined by the
Department | ||
of Corrections within the past year; | ||
(3) the inmate has a high school diploma or GED; | ||
(4) the inmate has never been convicted of an offense | ||
described in Subdivision 5 of Article 11 of the Criminal Code | ||
of 2012 (major sex offenses), Subdivision 10 of Article 11 of | ||
the Criminal Code of 2012 (vulnerable victim sex offenses), | ||
Section 11-20.1 of Subdivision 20 of Article 11 of the Criminal | ||
Code of 2012 (child pornography offenses), or similar offenses | ||
under the Criminal Code of 1961; | ||
(5) the inmate is not currently affiliated with a gang;
and | ||
(6) the inmate is committed to personal change. | ||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-11 new) | ||
Sec. 3-12.5-11. Curriculum; employment; retention of | ||
rights; certificate of completion. | ||
(a) The Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program shall | ||
consist of a rigorous curriculum, and participants shall be | ||
taught business skills, such as computer skills, budgeting, | ||
creating a business plan, public speaking, and realistic goal | ||
setting. | ||
(b) The curriculum shall not include the employment of | ||
participants as employees under the Department of Corrections | ||
or any for-profit or not-for-profit organization unless: | ||
(1) the employment is reasonably related to the purpose | ||
and curriculum of the Prisoner Entrepreneur Education | ||
Program; and | ||
(2) the participant consents in writing to the terms, | ||
provisions, working conditions, and wages of the | ||
employment. | ||
(c) Participants shall retain rights, control, and | ||
possession of all products created by the participant during | ||
the course of the Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program. Such | ||
rights shall include intellectual property rights and rights in | ||
trade secrets. Nothing in this amendatory Act of the 100th | ||
General Assembly shall be construed to give the Department of | ||
Corrections any right to sell, use, distribute, market, | ||
possess, or otherwise control any product created by a | ||
participant during the course of the Prisoner Entrepreneur | ||
Education Program, without the participant's written consent. | ||
(d) Participants who successfully complete the Prisoner | ||
Entrepreneur Education Program shall be awarded a Certificate | ||
of Completion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-15 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sec. 3-12.5-15. Post-release assistance. Subject to
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appropriation by the General Assembly, the Prisoner | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Entrepreneur
Education Program may establish post-release | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
assistance to
individuals awarded a Certificate of Completion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Post-release assistance may include drafting a resume and cover | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
letter,
searching for employment, networking events, or mock | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
interviews. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-20 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sec. 3-12.5-20. Power of Department. The Department of
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Corrections shall adopt rules
as the Director deems necessary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
to carry out the
purposes of this Article. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-25 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sec. 3-12.5-25. Funding. The funding for the Prisoner
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Entrepreneur Education Program shall be subject to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
appropriation by the General Assembly. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(730 ILCS 5/3-12.5-30 new) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sec. 3-12.5-30. Repeal. This Article is repealed 5 years | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
after its effective date.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
becoming law.
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