Bill H.176 aims to establish a clear timeline for the Department of Corrections to implement its community restitution program, known as work crew, by July 1, 2025. The bill mandates the reinstitution of previous policies that were rescinded, specifically Department Policy #339.01 and Department Policy #392.01, which governed the operations of the community restitution program. This reinstatement is intended to restore the framework for how the program operates, ensuring that offenders can participate in community service as part of their sentencing.

Additionally, the bill allows the Department of Corrections to set policies that limit the number of days an offender can be ordered to serve on a single mittimus and the total number of work crew days they can have outstanding at any time. Specifically, it stipulates that the minimum number of work crew days imposed under a single mittimus must be no less than 20 days, and the total outstanding days across multiple mittimuses must be at least 60 days. The act is set to take effect upon passage.