HB2563 - 451R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2563

community transition program

Sponsors: Representatives Anderson, Brimhall, Landrum

dpa	Committee on Human Services
w/d	Committee on PIRA
x	Committee on Appropriations
	Caucus and COW	This bill as introduced contains *an Appropriation clause.*
	As Passed the House

HB 2563 establishes the Community Transition Program to facilitate the reentry of persons incarcerated in a state Department of Corrections (ADC) facility into the community.

History

Numerous states provide prisoner transition programs prior to release. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice offers numerous programs throughout their facilities, including some faith-based programs. One of Texas' programs, Project RIO (Re-Integration of Offenders) is specifically designed to reduce the recidivism rate in Texas, which is the state with the second highest prison population. Project RIO has more than 100 staff members in 62 offices who provide job placement services for nearly 16,000 parolees each year in every Texas county. Idaho offers the Family Reunification Program designed to integrate incarcerated parents back into society and their families for the benefit of their children.

As of February 8, 2001, ADC facilities contained 26,803 incarcerated persons. Over the last three years, the average number of incarcerated persons released annually is 13,090.

Provisions

· Defines the term eligible person.

· Establishes the Community Transition Program (Program) within the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), and requires DES to contract with a private entity to implement the Program.

· Requires the contracted entity to establish a network of community and faith-based organizations who shall provide mentoring services and assistance to an eligible person before and after incarceration, and to conduct an annual survey to determine the recidivism rate of persons participating in the Program.

· States that the director of DES shall adopt rules including:

· Eligibility criteria for receiving the contracted entity's services, providing at least that:

· The person is an adult offender incarcerated within a state ADC facility who will be released within nine months.

· The person signs a written statement to provide specific information after release.

· The contracted entity shall evaluate the person before determining eligibility.

· A requirement that the contracted entity train mentors or certify that the mentors are trained.

· The types of services offered to an eligible person.

· Prohibits DES from discriminating against a contracted entity in awarding a contract.

· Requires the contracted entity to do all of the following when an eligible person is released from a facility:

· Assist in placing the person in employment.

· Assist in placing a person in job training.

· Provide the person at least one mentor.

· States that the contracted entity shall advise an eligible person in which programs through ADC to enroll.

· Requires DES to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with ADC to locate a minimum of two offices for the contracted entity in any two facilities under the jurisdiction of ADC. In addition, the contracted entity shall have at least two offices which are not located within ADC facilities, and are located in at least two different cities.

· Contains a delayed repeal date of July 1, 2011.

· Appropriates $1 million from the state general fund and $2 million from the TANF block grant in each of the FYs 2001-02 and 2002-03 to DES. Both appropriations are exempt from lapsing.

· Requires the contracted entity to begin providing services by July 1, 2002.

HB 2563 was amended in the Human Services Committee as follows:

· Establishes the Pre-Release Program within ADC in order to provide detoxification and literacy services to incarcerated persons. ADC shall contract with a private entity to do all of the following:

· Conduct a recidivism rate study of participants in the Program.

· Evaluate each person before determining eligibility.

· The director of ADC is required to adopt rules to include eligibility criteria for persons and type of services offered by the entity.

· Removes the appropriations section.

· Establishes both the Pre-Release Fund and the Community Transition Fund consisting of $500,000 in FY 2001-02 from each of the following funds in ADC:

· Alcohol Abuse Fund.

· Drug Treatment and Education Fund.

· Special Services Fund.

· Terminates the Pre-Release Program in 2011.

· Increases the time frame for which incarcerated persons would be eligible for the Program from nine months to 12 months.

· Places the responsibility of the recidivism rate survey and the individual eligibility determination for the Community Transition Program in the hands of ADC. HB 2563 currently requires the entity to provide such services.

· Declares that all services provided by the entity shall be coordinated with ADC.

· Additionally requires the entity to provide assistance finding other transitional needs such as housing, food or treatment services, and in finding the person health insurance coverage and assistance in finding medication, if necessary.

· Establishes the 13-member Community Transition Program Coordinating Committee in order to advise ADC in developing guidelines for a prerelease program for incarcerated persons. The Committee is required to submit a report of its findings to the governor and Legislature before June 30, 2002. The Committee is repealed July 1, 2002.

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· 45th Legislature