SB 226 — Inmate Reentry Services

Florida Senate - 2018 CS for SB 226 By Senatorthe BracyCommittee 11-00282-18on 2018226__Criminal AJustice; bill to be entitled An act relating to inmate reentry services;

creatingand s.Senator Bracy 591-00734-18 2018226c1 A bill to be entitled An act relating to inmate reentry services;

944.8025,amending F.S.;s.

requiring944.705, theF.S.; Department of Corrections to allow representatives from nonprofit organizations to apply to be registered with the department for the purpose of providing inmate reentry services;

requiring the departmentrelease toorientation developprogram andto adoptconsist policiesof andat proceduresleast for200 screening,hours approving,of andinstruction registeringtime; those nonprofit organizations and their representatives;

authorizingrequiring the departmentprogram to denybegin approvalat andleast registration360 todays anprior organizationto or a representative from an organization if the departmentinmate’s determinesrelease; that the organization or representative does not meet the department’s screening guidelines;

authorizingrequiring thethat departmenthousing placement information and eachjob ofsearch theassistance correctionalbe facilitiesincluded in this state to retain the discretionrelease toorientation denyprogram; entry into a correctional facility at any time to a representative of an organization;

requiring the departmentDepartment toof postCorrections certainto informationassist oninmates itsin publicsecuring websitethe foridentified certainbasic purposes;support services;

prohibitingrequiring the department fromto endorsingnotify orevery sponsoringinmate anyof faith-basedopportunities reentryfor programindustry orcertifications endorsingand anyjob specificplacement religiousin message;the community in which the inmate will be released;

prohibitingamending thes. department from requiring an inmate to participate in a faith-based program;

providing944.7065, rulemakingF.S.; authority;

providingrequiring aneach effectiveinmate date.released from incarceration by the department to complete at least a 200-hour comprehensive transition course;

28providing Belegislative Itfindings; Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

30requiring Sectionthe 1. SectionDepartment 944.8025,of FloridaCorrections Statutes,to isreport createdto the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the opportunities available for all inmates to read:receive industry certifications and vocational training;

944.8025 Inmaterequiring reentrythe servicesreport by nonprofit organizations.— (1) Subject to theinclude policiesrecommendations and procedures adopted under subsection (2) for screeningimprovement and approvingavailability; applicants, the department shall allow representatives from all nonprofit faith based, business and professional, civic, and community organizations to apply to be registered with the department under this section for the purpose of providing inmate reentry services.

Reentryrequiring servicesthe include,report butbe areprovided notto limitedthe to,Governor counseling, providing information on housing and jobthe placement,Legislature andby moneya managementspecified assistance.date;

(2) Theproviding departmenteffective shalldates. develop and adopt policies and procedures for screening, approving, and registering organizations and their representatives that apply to provide inmate reentry services under subsection (1).

The29 departmentBe mayIt denyEnacted approvalby andthe registrationLegislature of an organization or a representative from an organization if the departmentState determinesof thatFlorida: the organization or representative does not meet the department’s screening guidelines.

The31 departmentSection and1. Subsections each(1), of(2), theand correctional(4) facilitiesof insection this944.705, stateFlorida retainStatutes, theare discretionamended toand denysubsection entry(7) tois aadded correctional facility at any time to a representative of an organization listed under subsection (1) regardless of whether that representativesection, previously applied to andread: was registered with the department to provide inmate reentry services at a correctional facility.

(3) The944.705 Release departmentorientation shallprogram.— post(1) The a department telephoneshall numberprovide andparticipation providein ana applicationstandardized forrelease registrationorientation onprogram itsto publicevery website.eligible inmate.

The telephoneprogram numbermust andconsist applicationof mayat beleast used200 byhours representativesof frominstruction antime organization described in subsection (1) to obtain information and to begin theat applicationleast process360 fordays registrationprior withto the departmentinmate’s torelease. provide inmate reentry services.

(4) The(2) The departmentrelease mayorientation notprogram endorseinstruction ormust sponsorinclude, anybut faithis basednot reentrylimited programto: or endorse any specific religious message.

The(a) Employment departmentskills. may not require an inmate to participate in a faith-based program.

(5) The(b) Money departmentmanagement shallskills. adopt rules to implement this section.

Section(c) Personal 2. Thisdevelopment actand shallplanning. take effect October 1, 2018.

(d) Special needs.

(e) Community reentry concerns.

(f) Community reentry support.

(g) Housing placement information.

(h) Job search assistance.

(i)(g) Any other appropriate instruction to ensure the inmate’s successful reentry into the community.

(4) The department shall conduct a needs assessment of every inmate to determine which, if any, basic support services the inmate needs after release.

The department shall assist the inmate in securing the identified basic support services.

(7) The department shall notify every inmate of opportunities for industry certifications and job placement in the community in which the inmate will be released.

Section 2. Section 944.7065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

944.7065 Transition course for inmates.—In an effort to ensure that inmates released from the Department of Corrections successfully reenter the community, beginning December 1, 2002, each inmate released from incarceration by the department must complete at least a 200-hour a 100-hour comprehensive transition course that covers job readiness and life management skills.

This requirement does not apply to inmates released in an emergency situation.

Section 3. Effective upon becoming law, the Legislature finds that an essential element of inmate reentry services and reducing recidivism is providing all inmates with the opportunity to obtain industry certifications and vocational training.

The Department of Corrections shall report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the opportunities currently available for all inmates to receive industry certifications and vocational training.

The report must include recommendations on improving and enhancing the availability of industry certifications and vocational training for inmates.