Bill Text: FL S0226 | 2018 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Florida Senate Bill 226 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Inmate Reentry Services

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2018-03-10 - Died in Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice [S0226 Detail]

Download: Florida-2018-S0226-Comm_Sub.html

       Florida Senate - 2018                              CS for SB 226
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Criminal Justice; and Senator Bracy
       
       
       
       
       
       591-00734-18                                           2018226c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to inmate reentry services; amending
    3         s. 944.705, F.S.; requiring the release orientation
    4         program to consist of at least 200 hours of
    5         instruction time; requiring the program to begin at
    6         least 360 days prior to the inmate’s release;
    7         requiring that housing placement information and job
    8         search assistance be included in the release
    9         orientation program; requiring the Department of
   10         Corrections to assist inmates in securing the
   11         identified basic support services; requiring the
   12         department to notify every inmate of opportunities for
   13         industry certifications and job placement in the
   14         community in which the inmate will be released;
   15         amending s. 944.7065, F.S.; requiring each inmate
   16         released from incarceration by the department to
   17         complete at least a 200-hour comprehensive transition
   18         course; providing legislative findings; requiring the
   19         Department of Corrections to report to the Governor,
   20         the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   21         House of Representatives on the opportunities
   22         available for all inmates to receive industry
   23         certifications and vocational training; requiring the
   24         report to include recommendations for improvement and
   25         availability; requiring the report be provided to the
   26         Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
   27         providing effective dates.
   28          
   29  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   30  
   31         Section 1. Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of section
   32  944.705, Florida Statutes, are amended and subsection (7) is
   33  added to that section, to read:
   34         944.705 Release orientation program.—
   35         (1) The department shall provide participation in a
   36  standardized release orientation program to every eligible
   37  inmate. The program must consist of at least 200 hours of
   38  instruction time and begin at least 360 days prior to the
   39  inmate’s release.
   40         (2) The release orientation program instruction must
   41  include, but is not limited to:
   42         (a) Employment skills.
   43         (b) Money management skills.
   44         (c) Personal development and planning.
   45         (d) Special needs.
   46         (e) Community reentry concerns.
   47         (f) Community reentry support.
   48         (g) Housing placement information.
   49         (h) Job search assistance.
   50         (i)(g) Any other appropriate instruction to ensure the
   51  inmate’s successful reentry into the community.
   52         (4) The department shall conduct a needs assessment of
   53  every inmate to determine which, if any, basic support services
   54  the inmate needs after release. The department shall assist the
   55  inmate in securing the identified basic support services.
   56         (7) The department shall notify every inmate of
   57  opportunities for industry certifications and job placement in
   58  the community in which the inmate will be released.
   59         Section 2. Section 944.7065, Florida Statutes, is amended
   60  to read:
   61         944.7065 Transition course for inmates.—In an effort to
   62  ensure that inmates released from the Department of Corrections
   63  successfully reenter the community, beginning December 1, 2002,
   64  each inmate released from incarceration by the department must
   65  complete at least a 200-hour a 100-hour comprehensive transition
   66  course that covers job readiness and life management skills.
   67  This requirement does not apply to inmates released in an
   68  emergency situation.
   69         Section 3. Effective upon becoming law, the Legislature
   70  finds that an essential element of inmate reentry services and
   71  reducing recidivism is providing all inmates with the
   72  opportunity to obtain industry certifications and vocational
   73  training. The Department of Corrections shall report to the
   74  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
   75  House of Representatives on the opportunities currently
   76  available for all inmates to receive industry certifications and
   77  vocational training. The report must include recommendations on
   78  improving and enhancing the availability of industry
   79  certifications and vocational training for inmates. The
   80  department shall provide a written report to the Governor, the
   81  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   82  Representatives by October 1, 2018.
   83         Section 4. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
   84  act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
   85  this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect October 1,
   86  2018.