1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
3 HOUSE BILL 2729 By: Pittman
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6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to prisoner reentry; creating the
Oklahoma Prisoner Reentry Pilot Program for certain
8 inmates; stating purpose of the pilot program;
requiring initiation of pilot program in county with
9 certain population; providing support to pilot
program by employees of the Department of
10 Corrections; specifying eligibility requirement;
stating duties of support personnel; providing for
11 individualized reentry plans; itemizing list of
potential services available to inmates; authorizing
12 the Department to enter into public-private
partnerships; authorizing the acceptance of funds
13 from philanthropic organizations and federal grants;
requiring an assessment of the pilot program;
14 directing the Department to annually submit
assessment report to the Governor and Legislature;
15 directing the Department to promulgate policies;
providing for codification; and providing an
16 effective date.
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19 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
20 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
21 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 510.8d of Title 57, unless there
22 is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
23 A. The Department of Corrections shall establish the Oklahoma
24 Prisoner Reentry Pilot Program for inmates under the jurisdiction of
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1 the Department who have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment and
2 are likely to benefit from a case management reentry strategy
3 designed for the specific needs of an inmate who is transitioning
4 from prison into the community. The purpose of the pilot program
5 shall be to implement evidence-based practices and strategies that
6 promote improved public safety outcomes for inmates reentering
7 society after serving a term of incarceration and while released on
8 parole.
9 B. The pilot program shall be initiated in a county that has a
10 population in excess of five hundred thousand (500,000) according to
11 the latest Federal Decennial Census. The pilot program shall be
12 supported by employees of the Department of Corrections focusing
13 primarily on case management services for eligible inmates selected
14 for the pilot program. Any inmate with a medium or high risk of
15 felony arrest shall be eligible for participation for the pilot
16 program.
17 C. Employees of the Department shall assist inmates on parole
18 who are assigned to the pilot program in managing basic needs,
19 including housing, job training and placement, medical and mental
20 health care and any additional programming or responsibilities
21 attendant to the terms of the reentry requirements of the inmates.
22 Employees of the Department shall also work closely with the inmates
23 to prepare, monitor, revise and fulfill individualized inmate
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1 reentry plans consistent with this section during the term of the
2 pilot program.
3 D. Individualized inmate reentry plans shall focus on
4 connecting inmates to services for which the inmate is eligible
5 under existing federal, state and local laws.
6 E. Case management services shall be prioritized for inmates
7 identified as potentially benefiting from assistance with the
8 following:
9 1. Food, including the immediate need and long-term planning
10 for obtaining food;
11 2. Clothing, including the immediate need to obtain appropriate
12 clothing;
13 3. Shelter, including the immediate need to obtain housing;
14 4. Benefits including, but not limited to, general assistance,
15 benefits administered by the federal Social Security Administration,
16 Oklahoma Medicaid and veterans benefits;
17 5. Health services, including accessing community mental
18 health, medical and dental treatment;
19 6. Substance abuse services, including assisting inmates with
20 obtaining community substance abuse treatment or related 12-step
21 program information and locations;
22 7. Income, including developing and implementing a feasible
23 plan to obtain income and employment reflecting the highest level of
24 work appropriate for the abilities and experience of the inmate;
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1 8. Identification cards, including assisting reentering inmates
2 with obtaining driver licenses or state identification cards;
3 9. Life skills, including assisting with the development of
4 skills concerning money management, job interviewing, resume writing
5 and activities of daily living;
6 10. Activities, including working with reentering inmates in
7 choosing and engaging in suitable and productive activities;
8 11. Support systems, including working with reentering inmates
9 on developing a support system which may consist of prosocial
10 friends, family and community groups and activities such as
11 religious activities, recovery groups and other social events;
12 12. Academic and vocational programs, including assisting
13 reentering inmates in developing and implementing a realistic plan
14 to achieve an academic education, vocational training or both;
15 13. Discharge planning, including developing postparole plans
16 to sustain the achievements and goals of the reentering inmate to
17 ensure long-term community success; and
18 14. Transitional support services, including transportation
19 services, twenty-four-hour on-call support and conflict resolution
20 support.
21 F. The Department shall be authorized to enter into public-
22 private partnerships to assist in providing higher education
23 programs and reentry services for inmates and funding said programs
24 and services for the pilot program.
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1 G. The Department shall be authorized to accept funding for the
2 pilot program from philanthropic organizations or federal grants.
3 H. The Department shall contract for an evaluation of the pilot
4 program that will assess its effectiveness in reducing recidivism
5 among offenders transitioning from prison into the community.
6 I. The Department shall submit a report of the findings from
7 its evaluation of the pilot program to the Legislature and the
8 Governor annually for as long as the program is funded.
9 J. The Department of Corrections is hereby authorized to
10 promulgate policies necessary to implement the provisions of this
11 section.
12 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2021.
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14 58-1-6221 GRS 01/16/21
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