Reentry Appropriations
California made several reentry appropriations, including $28.5 million made available to support the reentry of people transitioning from state prison to communities. The legislation directs the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to convene vendors holding community-based reentry contracts to develop a plan to effectuate the ability for reentry providers to engage incarcerated individuals during authorized in-reach efforts and include a plan on determining rates for these services. The department is to report the recommendations to the Legislature on or before March 1, 2026. Further appropriations of $4 million were made for cognitive behavioral therapy and reentry services and $2 million to the Anti-Recidivism Coalition to support operation of the Hope Redemption Team Program to provide rehabilitation programming and reentry support to incarcerated people during and after incarceration.
Colorado made appropriations to support community reentry by allocating $2.7 million to personal services, $190,000 to contract services, $100,000 to offender reemployment centers, and $39,000 to put toward community reintegration grants. Colorado’s Community Re-entry Specialists reentry services include stabilization assistance or resources for housing, transportation, clothing, personal hygiene, backpacks, work tools, employment training, and job placement.
Florida appropriated nearly $8 million in recurring funds and roughly $1.5 million in nonrecurring funds to continue to expand educational and career and technical education programs within the Department of Corrections. The expansions will include traditional classroom education, virtual education and workforce reentry training. The legislature appropriated an additional $1 million in recurring funds and $1 million in nonrecurring funds to the inspHire program, which will provide prerelease risk assessment, a plan of care, professional development, life management skills training and referrals for those who may be eligible for the program upon release. The program will additionally provide post-release services including case management, professional development, life management skills training, job skills training, family reunification, financial assistance and job placement assistance for individuals who are on community supervision.
Georgia made appropriations for transition, support and reentry in the amount of nearly $4 million to provide a collaboration of governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to develop and execute a systematic reentry plan for Georgia offenders and ensure the delivery of services to reduce recidivism and support the success of returning citizens. The legislature appropriated another $711 million to provide housing, academic education, religious support, vocational training, counseling, and substance abuse treatment for violent and/or repeat offenders, or nonviolent offenders who have exhausted all other forms of punishment and to assist in the reentry of these offenders back into society.
Hawaii made several appropriations for reentry services, including $150,000 to Makana O Ke Akua Inc. for costs related to providing reentry/recovery housing programs for men leaving incarceration and recovering from substance abuse as well as $100,000 to pilot a recovery and community reentry program for released inmates.
Iowa appropriated $387,158 for an offender reentry program to be staffed by no more than five full-time staff.
Reentry Oversight
Maryland amended provisions relating to the Prison Education Delivery Reform Commission to include peer recovery and support services among the advisory stakeholder group and evaluate current workforce programs in which incarcerated individuals can participate as well as the program’s effectiveness in training for employment opportunities that result in living wages.
Occupational Licensing
Colorado passed legislation permitting those with criminal records to receive authorization to practice in state-regulated occupations that may require a registration, certification, or license. The bill provides that if an applicant has a criminal record, regulators may only consider the conviction for a three-year period beginning on the date of conviction or the end of incarceration. If the applicant is not convicted of a criminal offense during the three-year period, the regulator “shall only consider the individual’s application for registration ... in the same manner as an applicant who does not possess a prior criminal record,” except for crimes related to the occupation for which the individual is seeking certification.
Arizona enacted provisions preventing the denial of otherwise qualified applicants for a license solely due to a criminal record unless the offense is substantially related to the occupation or would pose a reasonable threat to public health and safety. The legislation also provides applicants specific remedies in the instance of a denial, including petitioning the Office of Administrative Hearings to request a review.
Access to Identification
Washington enacted provisions ensuring that incarcerated individuals confined for longer than 60 days possess a valid ID or driver’s license prior to the individual’s release to the community. The bill also provides that the release may not be delayed because of the delay in issuing an ID or driver’s license.
Appendix of 2024 Laws by Topic:
Expungement
Colorado HB 1432
Louisiana HB 553
Louisiana HB 416
West Virginia HB 4399
Ohio SB 214
Tennessee SB 181
Automatic Expungement
Maryland HB 209
Utah HB 352
Utah SB 163
Reentry Appropriations
California AB 107
Colorado HB 1181
Florida HB 5001
Georgia HB 915
Hawaii HB 1800
Iowa SB 2432
Maryland HB 209
Reentry Oversight
Maryland HB 209
Occupational Licensing
Arizona HB 2308
Colorado HB 1004
Access to Identification
Washington HB 2099