ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: MAPS DP 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read DPA 27-3-0-0

SB 1608: transition program fund; living expenses

S/E: transitional service grants; housing; appropriation

Sponsor: Senator Kern, LD 27

Committee on Military Affairs & Public Safety

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SB 1608

Overview

Creates a grants program under the administration of the Department of Corrections (DOC) for nonprofits that provide inmates with post-incarceration transitional services. Establishes the Transitional Housing Fund to provide for said grants and appropriates $10,000,000 from the Transition Program Fund to the Transitional Housing Fund.

History

Pursuant to A.R.S. § 31-281, DOC contracts with private entities to provide a Transition Program for eligible inmates. The Transition Program allows inmates the opportunity to be released from prison 90 days prior to their release date. Participants reside in homes or halfway houses across Arizona and receive counseling and case management services.

The Transition Program is funded by the Transition Program Fund. Any monies which the Transition Program, by virtue of its early release of inmates, saves DOC is transferred to the Transition Program Fund to pay for the vendor costs of the program. The fund additionally receives 5% of non-DUI inmate wages. It is estimated that in FY 2023 the Transitional Program Fund will have a year-end balance of $10,102,600 (A.R.S. §§ 31-284; 31-254; 31-285; JLBC Baseline Budget FY2024, DOC).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

1.   Instructs DOC to establish a program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that support inmates by helping prepare them for release and transition back into the community (Grants Program). (Sec. 2)

2.   Outlines that a nonprofit organization must, to qualify for a Grants Program grant:

a)   Have mentored at least 3,000 inmates while they were in prison for at least a two-year period;

b)   Use the grant monies for individuals that were mentored, for at least three months, by the nonprofit organization while they were in prison; and

c)   Demonstrate that it can provide individuals being released from prison specified kinds and degrees of housing, behavioral health services, government-issued documents and employment assistance. (Sec. 2)

3.   Establishes the Transitional Housing Fund, under the administration of DOC, whose monies are to be distributed for Grants Program grants. (Sec. 2)

4.   Stipulates that monies in the Transitional Housing Fund are continuously appropriated and exempt from lapsing. (Sec. 2)

5.   Directs, by August 31 of each year, DOC to submit a report to designated members of the legislative and executive branches with specified information regarding the Grants Program. (Sec. 2)

6.   Transfers on June 30 of each year, from the Transition Program Fund to the Transitional Housing Fund, any unexpended and unencumbered monies in the Transition Program Fund of more than $3,000,000. (Sec. 1)

7.   Appropriates $10,000,000 from the Transition Program Fund to the Transitional Housing Fund in FY 2024. (Sec. 3)

8.   Stipulates that the $10,000,000 appropriation, from the Transition Program Fund to the Transitional Housing Fund, is to be transferred by December 31, 2023. (Sec. 3)

 

 

 

 

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

                        SB 1608

Initials NM       Page 0 Military Affairs & Public Safety

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------