The bill modifies the eligibility terms for work release from prison and updates provisions of the Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act. It amends Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 244.065, subdivision 1, to require the commissioner of corrections to ensure that inmates can seek employment or participate in vocational training or educational programs, provided they agree and are within their term of imprisonment. Additionally, it revises the definition of "incarcerated days saved" in Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 244.41, subdivision 10, to include days served in less expensive community-based settings, while removing references to time earned in the challenge incarceration program.

Furthermore, the bill requires the commissioner to certify earned incentive release savings to Minnesota Management and Budget by the end of each fiscal year, as outlined in Minnesota Statutes 2023 Supplement, section 244.50, subdivision 2. The calculation of these savings must now account for the fiscal year in which an inmate completed or failed their program and must be adjusted by the actual cost of the programming provided. These changes aim to enhance the rehabilitation process and ensure more effective use of resources within the corrections system.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 244.065