California Assembly Bill AB2326 Amended / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2326AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 28, 2010 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Bass FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to amend Section 5056.5 of the Penal Code, relating to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Reentry Advisory Committee. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2326, as amended, Bass. Reentry Advisory Committee. Existing law requires the Secretary of Corrections to establish, until January 1, 2011, a Reentry Advisory Committee, comprised as specified, to advise the secretary on matters related to the successful planning, implementation, and outcomes of all reentry programs and services in the department, with the goal of reducing recidivism.  Existing law provides that the committee shall meet at least quarterly and that committee members shall receive compensation for travel expenses but no other compensation.  This bill would expand the membership of the committee by 3 members, as specified. The bill would require additional reports by the committee, and would require the committee to develop a comprehensive resource guide for community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, service providers, law enforcement agencies, and industry and governmental entities, as specified.  The bill would require the committee to apply for specified federal grants, and to develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan containing annual and 5-year performance goals, as specified, to include the goal of reducing the rate of recidivism by 50% over a 5-year period for offenders released from prison, jail, or a juvenile facility who are served with federal grant funds as measured by specified outcomes. The bill would require the committee to submit an annual report to the Legislature and the United States Attorney General detailing the progress towards achieving strategic performance outcomes, as specified.   The bill would remove the requirement that the committee meet at least quarterly and instead provide that the committee shall meet upon call of the secretary. The bill   would also remove the requirement that committee members shall receive compensation for travel expenses, as specified, and instead provide that committee members shall serve without compensation.  The bill would extend the operation of the committee until January 1, 2016. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 5056.5 of the Penal Code is amended to read: 5056.5. (a) On or before July 1, 2007, the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shall establish a Reentry Advisory Committee. The committee shall report to the secretary, who shall serve as chair of the committee. The committee shall include representation from stakeholders in the successful administration of reentry programming and shall be comprised of the following members, appointed by the secretary: (1) A representative of the California League of Cities. (2) A representative of the California State Association of Counties. (3) A representative of the California State Sheriffs' Association. (4) A representative of the California Police Chiefs' Association. (5) A representative of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Adult Parole Operations. (6) A representative of the Department of Mental Health. (7) A representative of the Department of Social Services. (8) A representative of the State Department of Health Care Services. (9) A representative of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency. (10) A representative of the County Alcohol and Drug Program Administrators Association. (11) A representative of the California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program Executives. (12) An individual with experience in providing housing for low-income individuals. (13) A recognized expert in restorative justice programs. (14) An individual with experience in providing education and vocational training services. (15) An independent consultant with expertise in community corrections and reentry services. (16) A public defender or private defense attorney. (17) A representative of a community-based organization who is familiar with the reentry needs of former offenders and who has experience advocating for former offenders and with providing reentry services in southern California. (18) A representative of a faith-based organization who is familiar with the reentry needs of former offenders and who has experience advocating for former offenders and providing reentry services in northern California. (b) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall meet  not less frequently than each quarter and shall also meet upon call of the secretary. The committee shall hold its meetings at a time and location that is convenient to the public. All meetings of the committee shall be open to the public and members of the   upon call of the secretary. Members of the  committee shall serve without compensation. (c) The Reentry Advisory Committee shall advise the secretary on all matters related to the successful statewide planning, implementation, and outcomes of all reentry programs and services provided by the department, with the goal of reducing recidivism of all persons under the jurisdiction of the department. The committee shall  issue advisory reports whenever it deems appropriate, but shall, not less frequently than annually, issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature. The committee shall make these reports available to the public. A report by the committee shall, at a minimum, include recommendations on all of the following:   consider and advise the secretary on the following objectives:  (1)  Collaborative   Encouraging collaborative  reentry activities among key stakeholders at the state and local levels. (2)  Best   Developing   a knowl   edge base of best  practice models and programs related to what people need to successfully return to their communities from prison and what resources communities need to successfully provide for these needs. (3) Incorporating reentry outcomes into department organizational missions and work plans as priorities. (4) Funding of reentry programs. (5) Promoting systems of integration and coordination. (6) Measuring outcomes and evaluating the impact of reentry programs. (7) Educating the public about reentry programs and their role in public safety.  (d) The committee shall develop a comprehensive resource guide for community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, service providers, law enforcement agencies, and industry and governmental entities working to address the issues of reentry through programs, service delivery, or both programs and service delivery. The guide shall also detail the availability of private, city, county, city and county, state, and federal resources for former offenders attempting to successfully reintegrate into society. The guide shall be made available to the public in order to maximize the potential for collaboration.   (e) The committee shall immediately seek and apply for grant funding available through the federal Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention (Public Law 110-199).   (f) As required by the federal Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention, the committee shall develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan containing annual and five-year performance goals. The comprehensive reentry plan shall seek to reduce the rate of recidivism by 50 percent over a five-year period for offenders released from prison, jail, or a juvenile facility who are served with funds provided under the federal Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention. The outcome measures for the plan developed pursuant to this subdivision may include, but shall not be limited to, the following:   (1) Reduction in crime.   (2) Increase in employment and educational opportunities.   (3) Reduction in supervised release violations.   (4) Increase in child support obligation compliance.   (5) Reduction in drug and alcohol abuse.   (6) Increase in participation in substance abuse and mental health services.   (7) Other outcome measures that correlate positively with the reentry success rate of offenders who transition out of prisons, jails, or juvenile facilities.   (g) The committee shall develop the comprehensive strategic reentry plan in consultation with community members and stakeholders, including persons in the fields of public safety, juvenile and adult corrections, housing, health, education, substance abuse, child and family services, victim services, employment, and business, and members of nonprofit organizations working on reentry policy or providing reentry services.   (h) The committee shall submit an annual report to the Legislature and the United States Attorney General detailing the progress of grantees towards achieving strategic performance outcomes and describing other activities conducted by grantees to increase the success rates of the reentry population, such as programs that foster effective risk management and treatment, offender accountability, and community and victim participation.   (i)   (d)  This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2016, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2016, deletes or extends that date.