FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 221 as introduced requires one Deputy Commissioner within the Department of Corrections to be assigned as the Deputy Commissioner of Prisoner Rehabilitation and one executive-level employee at the Board of Pardons and Paroles to be assigned as the Deputy Director of Parolee Rehabilitation in an effort to develop, implement and improve programs designed to reduce recidivism.

In addition, this bill establishes an 11-member Study Commission on Interagency Cooperation and Collaboration on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Formerly Incarcerated Individuals to: 1) develop a strategic plan for reducing recidivism; 2) identify and implement evidence-based strategies and programming to support successful reentry; 3) promote partnerships to advance and reentry programs; 4) develop strategies to expand educational programs upon reentry; 5) develop strategies to assure access to health care upon reentry; 6) identify and address barriers to successful reentry; and 7) provide a report to the Legislature by the fifth legislative day of the 2022 Regular Session. This will increase the obligations of the Legislature, paid from the State General Fund, by an estimated $620 per meeting of the commission attended by the two legislative members.

As amended and reported by the Committee on Judiciary, adds two non-legislative members to the Study Commission.