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
dpa	Committee on Appropriations
dpa	Caucus and COW	This bill as passed the House contains *an Appropriation clause.*
x	As Passed the House

HB 2563 establishes both the Pre-Release and 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 Pre-Release Program (Program) within ADC in order to provide detoxification and literacy services to incarcerated persons. ADC shall:

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

· Evaluate each person before determining eligibility.

· States that the director of ADC 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 12 months.

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

· The types of services offered to an eligible person.

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

· Requires ADC to annually report by December 31 to the governor and the legislature the following information for the Program:

· The recidivism rate of persons participating.

· The number of persons who received services.

· The number of persons on a waiting list for program services.

· The types of services offered.

· The number of persons that utilized each service.

· Terminates the Pre-Release Program in 2011.

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

· Requires the contracted entity to establish a network of community and faith-based organizations to provide mentoring services and assistance to an eligible person before and after incarceration.

· 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 12 months.

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

· 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.

· States all services shall be coordinated with ADC.

· Requires ADC to conduct an annual recidivism rate survey, and evaluate the person before determining eligibility.

· Requires ADC to annually report by December 31 to the governor and the legislature the following information for the Transition Program:

· The recidivism rate of persons participating.

· The number of persons who received services.

· The number of persons on a waiting list for program services.

· The types of services offered.

· The number of persons that utilized each service.

· 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.

· Assist in finding other transitional needs such as housing, food or treatment services.

· Assist in finding the person health insurance coverage and assistance in finding medication, if necessary.

· 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.

· Terminates the Transition Program in 2011.

· Establishes the 13-member Community Transition Program Coordinating Committee (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.

· Establishes both the Pre-Release Fund and the Community Transition Fund consisting of $500,000 in each of the FYs 2001-02 and 2002-03 from each of the following funds in ADC:

· alcohol abuse fund;

· drug treatment and education fund;

· special services fund.

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

· Contains a delayed repeal date of July 1, 2002 for the Committee.

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· 45th Legislature