HB 845

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to inmate transition assistance; amending
3	s. 944.704, F.S.; providing for specified positions for
4	inmate transition assistance to be created at state
5	correctional facilities; providing duties; providing that
6	certain positions should not be filled by correctional
7	officers or correctional probation officers; requiring
8	organization and funding of reentry coalition
9	coordinators; amending s. 944.705, F.S.; requiring the
10	Department of Corrections to include specified behavioral
11	programming within release orientation programs; amending
12	s. 944.707, F.S.; providing that funding for technology
13	enhancements should be sought for specified purposes;
14	requiring the Agency for Workforce Innovation to designate
15	specialists to provide services to ex-offenders; providing
16	an effective date.
17
18	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
20	Section 1.  Section 944.704, Florida Statutes, is amended
21	to read:
22	944.704  Staff who provide transition assistance; duties.--
23	(1)  The following positions should be established and
24	funded on a recurring basis at state correctional facilities
25	department shall provide a transition assistance specialist at
26	each of the major institutions whose duties include, but are not
27	limited to:
28	(a)(1)  Transition assistant specialists, whose duties
29	include, but are not limited to: Coordinating delivery of
30	transition assistance program services at the institution and at
31	the community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
32	945.091(1)(b).
33	1.  Administering in-depth needs assessments for returning
34	offenders.
35	2.(2)  Assisting in the development of each inmate's
36	postrelease plan.
37	3.(3)  Obtaining job placement information.
38	4.(4)  Providing a written medical discharge plan and
39	referral to a county health department.
40	5.(5)  For an inmate who is known to be HIV positive,
41	providing a 30-day supply of all HIV/AIDS-related medication
42	that the inmate is taking prior to release, if required under
43	protocols of the department of Corrections and treatment
44	guidelines of the United States Department of Health and Human
45	Services.
46	6.(6)  Facilitating placement in a private transition
47	housing program, if requested by any eligible inmate. If an
48	inmate who is nearing his or her date of release requests
49	placement in a contracted substance abuse transition housing
50	program, the transition assistance specialist shall inform the
51	inmate of program availability and assess the inmate's need and
52	suitability for transition housing assistance. If an inmate is
53	approved for placement, the specialist shall assist the inmate
54	and coordinate the release of the inmate with the selected
55	program. If an inmate requests and is approved for placement in
56	a contracted faith-based substance abuse transition housing
57	program, the specialist must consult with the chaplain prior to
58	such placement. In selecting inmates who are nearing their date
59	of release for placement in a faith-based program, the
60	department shall ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or
61	lack thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to
62	the program and that the program does not attempt to convert an
63	inmate toward a particular faith or religious preference.
64	7.(7)  Providing a photo identification card to all inmates
65	prior to their release.
66	(b)  100-hour transition instructors, whose duties include,
67	but are not limited to, implementing the 100-hour transition
68	training program.
69	(c)  Regional coordinators, whose duties include, but are
70	not limited to, ensuring effective program delivery of the 100-
71	hour transition training program throughout the state.
72	(2)  The transition assistance specialists, 100-hour
73	transition instructors, and regional coordinators specialist may
74	not be a correctional officers officer or correctional probation
75	officers officer as defined in s. 943.10.
76	(3)  The department shall organize and fund reentry
77	coalition coordinators in each of the judicial circuits in the
78	state. Funding should be provided to the department to contract
79	by judicial circuit with community organizations to offer
80	temporary housing to those offenders without immediate housing
81	options upon release. Restrictions on eligible participants
82	should only apply to individuals who are prohibited by law from
83	securing such housing assistance.
84	Section 2.  Subsection (7) is added to section 944.705,
85	Florida Statutes, to read:
86	944.705  Release orientation program.--
87	(7)  The department shall provide comprehensive programming
88	that addresses an offender's criminal thinking as determined by
89	the offender's level or risk. Transition programming shall
90	incorporate a cognitive behavioral approach, span 18 to 24
91	months from release, and involve 4 to 6 months of curriculum.
92	Section 3.  Subsections (3) and (4) are added to section
93	944.707, Florida Statutes, to read:
94	944.707  Postrelease special services; job placement
95	services.--
96	(3)  Funding for technology enhancements should be sought
97	to establish computer labs at each correctional institution. The
98	technology will be used for various applications such as
99	community service linkages, programming, job interviews, meeting
100	with probation officers, visitation to aid in family
101	reunification, telemedicine, parole hearings, and legal
102	proceedings.
103	(4)  The Agency for Workforce Innovation shall designate
104	specialists dedicated solely to providing services to ex-
105	offenders.
106	Section 4.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.