Judiciary Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-6463
AN ACT CONCERNING THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION, A REENTRY
EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEES IN
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IS LOCATED, THE
DISCLOSURE OF RECORDS, THE PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA
RELATING TO AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION
AND THE PROVISION OF DEBIT CARDS TO INCARCERATED PERSONS AT
Title: THE TIME OF RELEASE.
Vote Date: 4/5/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 3/22/2021
File No.: 595
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Judiciary Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This is the Department of Corrections annual agency bill. This makes various changes
including codifying current practice by allowing the Commissioner to designate a deputy
warden to serve as director of reentry services and establishes a reentry employment
advisory to advise the Commissioner on aligning the departments education and job training
programs. It also requires the Department of Corrections to provide inmates with debit cards
for any compensation they earned performing certain jobs, upon their release.
SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE:
The substitute language revises Section 2 replacing the Technical Education and Career
System representative with a business representative serving on the Governors Workforce
Council. The substitute language also specifies that the three additional members on the
Governors Workforce Council must represent business and/or business associations. The
substitute language also changes the effective date in Section 7 to January 1, 2022.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
State of Connecticut Department of Corrections, Commissioner, Angel Quiros; supports this
bill stating that it is the Departments sole legislative proposal which is comprised of technical
or minor statutory changes. It is also stated that while Section 7 was not part of the
Departments submission, it is supported to provide inmates with debit cards in lieu of checks
for monies in their accounts however, it is requested that the effective date be moved to
January 1, 2022. (The substitute language addressed this change).
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut, Interim Senior Policy Counsel, Kelly
McConney Moore; supports Sections 1 and 2 of this bill stating that people in the criminal
justice system who have finished their sentences deserve to live life without barriers. It is
stated that the barriers have worsened throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and formerly
incarcerated people will be the last to see unemployment rates lower. It is stated that the
Department of Corrections must undertake a process to promote reentry employment before
people are at the end of their sentences which a Director of Reentry can spearhead.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None submitted
Reported by: Pamela Bianca Date: April 18, 2021
Page 2 of 2 HB-6463


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 18-82, 18-81h, 4-190, 18-81y, 18-85, 18-81bb
JUD Joint Favorable Substitute: 18-82, 18-81h, 4-190, 18-81y, 18-85, 18-81bb
File No. 595: 18-82, 18-81h, 4-190, 18-81y, 18-85, 18-81bb
Public Act No. 21-85: 18-82, 18-81h, 4-190, 18-81y, 18-85, 18-81bb