BILL NUMBER: SB 973INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Negrete McLeod (Coauthor: Assembly Member Carter) FEBRUARY 8, 2010 An act to add Section 3055.4 to the Penal Code, relating to parole. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 973, as introduced, Negrete McLeod. Imprisonment: parole: programs. Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish 3 pilot programs to provide intensive training and counseling to female parolees to help the parolees reintegrate into society. This bill would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish a reentry program in the City or County of San Bernardino for parolees returning to the City or County of San Bernardino that would conduct needs-based assessments of the individual parolees, partner with City or County of San Bernardino law enforcement officers, and partner with local community organizations providing support services, as specified. This bill would require the department to maintain information on the effectiveness of the program, as specified, and report to the Legislature on request. This bill would state that its operation is contingent upon consent by the applicable jurisdiction to participate in the program. 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. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (a) Support services provided to a parolee help the parolee reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism rates. (b) The creation of a reentry program in the City or County of San Bernardino will help the Legislature determine the effectiveness of a reentry program. (c) The City of San Bernardino and the County of San Bernardino are uniquely situated with regard to parolee population and available services to operate the proposed reentry program in a manner that will allow the Legislature to measure its efficacy for the consideration of later changes to, or expansion of, the program. SEC. 2. Section 3055.4 is added to the Penal Code, to read: 3055.4. (a) The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, to the extent existing resources are available or additional resources for these purposes are appropriated, shall establish a reentry program in the City or County of San Bernardino. (b) The reentry program may include, but need not be limited to, the following components: (1) A prerelease needs assessment of inmates scheduled to be paroled to the City or County of San Bernardino. (2) A partnership between parole agents and local law enforcement officers in supervising parolees released to the City or County of San Bernardino. (3) A reentry plan identifying services needed by the parolee. (4) A partnership with local community organizations and service providers to provide support services to parolees, such as transitional housing, job training or placement, or substance abuse treatment. (c) The department shall maintain statistical information related to this reentry program, including, but not limited to, the number of parolees served and the rate of return to prison for those parolees. This information shall be provided to the Legislature upon request. (d) This section shall become operative in the City or County of San Bernardino only upon the consent of the applicable jurisdiction to participate in the program.