Bill H.436, introduced by Representative Headrick, aims to establish a statutory framework for the Department of Corrections to create reentry facilities for individuals with low-level risk assessments upon their release from incarceration. The bill emphasizes the need for these facilities to provide the least restrictive security level necessary to protect the public while offering transitional services to aid in successful reintegration into the community. It mandates that the Department of Corrections assess and place eligible individuals in these facilities, which will also be available as a condition of release for the courts. Additionally, the Department is required to submit annual reports detailing the use of reentry facilities and plans for their development.

The bill includes several key insertions into existing law, such as defining "reentry facility" and establishing criteria for their creation and operation. It specifies that reentry facilities should serve offenders within five years of release and be accessible to pretrial inmates who do not pose significant risks. The legislation also introduces a requirement for victim notification when individuals are placed in reentry facilities and mandates that the Department submit a report by January 15, 2026, outlining plans for establishing these facilities and addressing housing needs for inmates. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2030, with the reporting requirement effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 28-701b, 28-808, 28-808a, 13-7554