II
Calendar No. 580
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 1690
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 13, 2013
Mr. Leahy (for himself, Mr. Portman, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Franken, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brown, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. King, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker, Mr. Coons, Ms. Collins, Ms. Hirono, and Mr. Schumer) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
October 1, 2014
Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of September 18, 2014, by Mr. Leahy, with amendments
Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic
A BILL
To reauthorize the Second Chance Act of 2007.
Short title
This Act may be cited as
the
Second Chance Reauthorization Act
of 2013
.
Improvements to existing programs
Reauthorization of adult and juvenile offender State and local demonstration projects
Section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3797w ) is amended—
by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
Grant authorization
The Attorney General shall make grants to States, local governments, territories, or Indian tribes, or any combination thereof (in this section referred to as an eligible entity), in partnership with interested persons (including Federal corrections and supervision agencies), services providers, and nonprofit organizations for the purpose of strategic planning and implementation of adult and juvenile offender reentry projects.
;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (3), by inserting or reentry courts,
after
community,
;
in paragraph (6), by striking and
at the end;
in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
promoting employment opportunities consistent with the Transitional Jobs strategy (as defined in section 4 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17502 )).
;
by striking subsections (d), (e), and (f) and inserting the following:
Combined grant application; priority consideration
In general
The Attorney General shall develop a procedure to allow applicants to submit a single application for a planning grant under subsection (e) and an implementation grant under subsection (f).
Priority consideration
The Attorney General shall give priority consideration to grant applications under subsections (e) and (f) that include a commitment by the applicant to partner with a local evaluator to identify and analyze data that will—
enable the grantee to target the intended offender population; and
serve as a baseline for purposes of the evaluation.
Planning grants
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Attorney General may make a grant to an eligible entity of not more than $75,000 to develop a strategic, collaborative plan for an adult or juvenile offender reentry demonstration project as described in subsection (h) that includes—
a budget and a budget justification;
a description of the outcome measures that will be used to measure the effectiveness of the program in promoting public safety and public health;
the activities proposed;
a schedule for completion of the activities described in subparagraph (C); and
a description of the personnel necessary to complete the activities described in subparagraph (C).
Maximum total grants and geographic diversity
Maximum amount
The Attorney General may not make planning grants and implementation grants to 1 eligible entity in a total amount that is more than a $1,000,000.
Geographic diversity
The Attorney General shall make every effort to ensure equitable geographic distribution of grants under this section and take into consideration the needs of underserved populations, including rural and tribal communities.
Period of grant
A planning grant made under this subsection shall be for a period of not longer than 1 year, beginning on the first day of the month in which the planning grant is made.
Implementation grants
Applications
An eligible entity desiring an implementation grant under this subsection shall submit to the Attorney General an application that—
contains a reentry strategic plan as described in subsection (h), which describes the long-term strategy and incorporates a detailed implementation schedule, including the plans of the applicant to fund the program after Federal funding is discontinued;
identifies the local government role and the role of governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that will be coordinated by, and that will collaborate on, the offender reentry strategy of the applicant, and certifies the involvement of such agencies and organizations;
describes the evidence-based methodology and outcome measures that will be used to evaluate the program funded with a grant under this subsection, and specifically explains how such measurements will provide valid measures of the impact of that program; and
describes how the project could be broadly replicated if demonstrated to be effective.
Requirements
The Attorney General may make a grant to an applicant under this subsection only if the application—
reflects explicit support of the chief executive officer, or their designee, of the State, unit of local government, territory, or Indian tribe applying for a grant under this subsection;
provides extensive discussion of the role of Federal corrections, State corrections departments, community corrections agencies, juvenile justice systems, and tribal or local jail systems in ensuring successful reentry of offenders into their communities;
provides extensive evidence of collaboration with State and local government agencies overseeing health, housing, child welfare, education, substance abuse, victims services, and employment services, and with local law enforcement agencies;
provides a plan for analysis of the statutory, regulatory, rules-based, and practice-based hurdles to reintegration of offenders into the community;
includes the use of a State, local, territorial, or tribal task force, described in subsection (i), to carry out the activities funded under the grant;
provides a plan for continued collaboration with a local evaluator as necessary to meeting the requirements under subsection (h); and
demonstrates that the applicant participated in the planning grant process or engaged in comparable planning for the reentry project.
Priority considerations
The Attorney General shall give priority to grant applications under this subsection that best—
focus initiative on geographic areas with a disproportionate population of offenders released from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;
include—
input from nonprofit organizations, in any case where relevant input is available and appropriate to the grant application;
consultation with crime victims and offenders who are released from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities;
coordination with families of offenders;
input, where appropriate, from the juvenile justice coordinating council of the region;
input, where appropriate, from the reentry coordinating council of the region; and
other interested persons, as appropriate;
demonstrate effective case assessment and management abilities in order to provide comprehensive and continuous reentry, including—
planning for prerelease transitional housing and community release that begins upon admission for juveniles and jail inmates, and, as appropriate, for prison inmates, depending on the length of the sentence;
establishing prerelease planning procedures to ensure that the eligibility of an offender for Federal, tribal, or State benefits upon release is established prior to release, subject to any limitations in law, and to ensure that offenders obtain all necessary referrals for reentry services, including assistance identifying and securing suitable housing; and
delivery of continuous and appropriate mental health services, drug treatment, medical care, job training and placement, educational services, vocational services, and any other service or support needed for reentry;
review the process by which the applicant adjudicates violations of parole, probation, or supervision following release from prison, jail, or a juvenile facility, taking into account public safety and the use of graduated, community-based sanctions for minor and technical violations of parole, probation, or supervision (specifically those violations that are not otherwise, and independently, a violation of law);
provide for an independent evaluation of reentry programs that include, to the maximum extent possible, random assignment and controlled studies to determine the effectiveness of such programs;
target moderate and high-risk offenders for reentry programs through validated assessment tools; and
target offenders with histories of homelessness, substance abuse, or mental illness, including a prerelease assessment of the housing status of the offender and behavioral health needs of the offender with clear coordination with mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness services systems to achieve stable and permanent housing outcomes with appropriate support service.
Amount
The amount of a grant made under this subsection may not be more than $925,000.
Period of grant
A grant made under this subsection shall be effective for a 2-year period—
beginning on the date on which the planning grant awarded under subsection (e) concludes; or
in the case of an implementation grant awarded to an eligible entity that did not receive a planning grant, beginning on the date on which the implementation grant is awarded.
;
in subsection (h)—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
In general
As a condition of receiving financial assistance under subsection (f), each application shall develop a comprehensive reentry strategic plan that—
contains a plan to assess inmate reentry needs and measurable annual and 3-year performance outcomes;
uses, to the maximum extent possible, randomly assigned and controlled studies, or rigorous quasi-experimental studies with matched comparison groups, to determine the effectiveness of the program funded with a grant under subsection (f); and
includes as a goal of the plan to reduce the rate of recidivism for offenders released from prison, jail or a juvenile facility with funds made available under subsection (f).
Local evaluator
A partnership with a local evaluator described in subsection (d)(2) shall require the local evaluator to use the baseline data and target population characteristics developed under a subsection (e) planning grant to derive a feasible and meaningful target goal for recidivism reduction during the 3-year period beginning on the date of implementation of the program.
;
in subsection (i)(1)—
in the matter
preceding subparagraph (A), by striking under this section
and
inserting under subsection (f)
; and
in subparagraph
(B), by striking subsection (e)(4)
and inserting
subsection (f)(2)(D)
;
in subsection (j)—
in paragraph (1),
by inserting for an implementation grant under subsection (f)
after applicant
;
in paragraph (2)—
in
subparagraph (E), by inserting , where appropriate
after
support
; and
by striking subparagraphs (F), (G), and (H), and inserting the following:
increased number of staff trained to administer reentry services;
increased proportion of individuals served by the program among those eligible to receive services;
increased number of individuals receiving risk screening needs assessment, and case planning services;
increased enrollment in, and completion of treatment services, including substance abuse and mental health services among those assessed as needing such services;
increased enrollment in and degrees earned from educational programs, including high school, GED, vocational training, and college education;
increased number of individuals obtaining and retaining employment;
increased number of individuals obtaining and maintaining housing;
increased self-reports of successful community living, including stability of living situation and positive family relationships;
reduction in drug and alcohol use; and
reduction in recidivism rates for individuals receiving reentry services after release, as compared to either baseline recidivism rates in the jurisdiction of the grantee or recidivism rates of the control or comparison group.
;
in paragraph (3),
by striking facilities.
and inserting facilities,
including a cost-benefit analysis to determine the cost effectiveness of
the
reentry program.
;
in paragraph (4),
by striking this section
and inserting subsection
(f)
; and
in paragraph (5),
by striking this section
and inserting subsection
(f)
;
in subsection
(k)(1), by striking this section
each place the term appears and
inserting subsection (f)
;
in subsection (l)—
in paragraph (2),
by inserting beginning on the date on which the most recent
implementation grant is made to the grantee under subsection (f)
after
2-year period
; and
in paragraph (4),
by striking over a 2-year period
and inserting during the
2-year period described in paragraph (2)
;
in subsection
(o)(1), by striking appropriated
and all that follows and
inserting the following:
appropriated $35,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2014 through 2018.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Definition
In this section, the term reentry court means a program that—
monitors juvenile and adult eligible offenders reentering the community;
provides continual judicial supervision;
provides juvenile and adult eligible offenders reentering the community with coordinated and comprehensive reentry services and programs, such as—
drug and alcohol testing and assessment for treatment;
assessment for substance abuse from a substance abuse professional who is approved by the State or Indian tribe and licensed by the appropriate entity to provide alcohol and drug addiction treatment, as appropriate;
substance abuse treatment from a provider that is approved by the State or Indian tribe, and licensed, if necessary, to provide medical and other health services;
health (including mental health) services and assessment;
aftercare and case management services that—
facilitate access to clinical care and related health services; and
coordinate with such clinical care and related health services; and
any other services needed for reentry;
convenes community impact panels, victim impact panels, or victim impact educational classes;
provides and coordinates the delivery of community services to juvenile and adult eligible offenders, including—
housing assistance;
education;
job training;
conflict resolution skills training;
batterer intervention programs; and
other appropriate social services; and
establishes and implements graduated sanctions and incentives.
.
Grants for family-Based substance abuse treatment
Part DD of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797s et seq.) is amended—
in
section 2921
(
42 U.S.C. 3797s
), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
nonprofit organizations,
before and
Indian
;
in section 2923 ( 42 U.S.C. 3797s–2 ), by adding at the end the following:
Priority considerations
The Attorney General shall give priority consideration to grant applications for grants under section 2921 that are submitted by a nonprofit organization that demonstrates a relationship with State and local criminal justice agencies, including—
within the judiciary and prosecutorial agencies; or
with the local corrections agencies, which shall be documented by a written agreement that details the terms of access to facilities and participants and provides information on the history of the organization of working with correctional populations.
; and
by striking section 2926(a) ( 42 U.S.C. 3797s–5(a) ), and inserting the following:
In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
.
Grant program To evaluate and improve educational methods at prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities
Title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 ( 42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq. ) is amended—
by redesignating part KK ( 42 U.S.C. 3797ee et seq. ) as part LL;
by redesignating the second part designated as part JJ, as added by the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( Public Law 110–199 ; 122 Stat. 677), relating to grants to evaluate and improve educational methods, as part KK;
by redesignating the second section designated as section 3001 and section 3002 (42 U.S.C. 3797dd and 3797dd–1), as added by the Second Chance Act of 2007 (Public Law 110–199; 122 Stat. 677), relating to grants to evaluate and improve educational methods, as sections 3005 and 3006, respectively;
in section 3005, as so redesignated—
in subsection (a)—
in
paragraph (2), by striking and
at the end;
in
paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting ;
and
; and
by adding at the end the following:
implement methods to improve academic and vocational education for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities consistent with the best practices identified in subsection (c).
;
by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); and
by inserting after subsection (b), the following:
Best practices
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 , the Attorney General shall identify and publish best practices relating to academic and vocational education for offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. The best practices shall consider the evaluations performed and recommendations made under grants made under subsection (a) before the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 .
; and
in section 3006,
as so redesignated, by striking to carry
and all that follows
through 2010
and inserting
for each of fiscal years 2014,
2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 for grants for purposes described in section
3005(a)(4)
.
Careers training demonstration grants
Section 115 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17511 ) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
by striking and Indian
and inserting nonprofit
organizations, and Indian
; and
by striking technology career training to prisoners
and inserting career training, including subsidized employment, when part of a training program, to prisoners and
reentering youth and adults
;
in subsection (b)—
by striking technology careers training
;
by striking technology-based
; and
by inserting , as well as upon transition and reentry into the community
after facility
;
by striking subsections (c) and (e);
by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
Priority consideration
Priority consideration shall be given to any application under this section that—
provides assessment of local demand for employees in the geographic areas to which offenders are likely to return;
conducts individualized reentry career planning upon the start of incarceration or post-release employment planning for each offender served under the grant;
demonstrates connections to employers within the local community; or
tracks and monitors employment outcomes.
; and
by adding at the end the following:
Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
.
Offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration program
Section 201(f)(1) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17521(f)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
In general
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2014 through 2018.
.
Community-Based mentoring and transitional service grants to nonprofit organizations
In general
Section 211 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17531) is amended—
in the header, by
striking
Mentoring grants to
nonprofit organizations
and inserting
Community-based mentoring
and transitional service grants to nonprofit organizations
;
in subsection
(a), by striking mentoring and other
;
in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
transitional services to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community, including—
educational, literacy, and vocational, services and the Transitional Jobs strategy;
substance abuse treatment and services;
coordinated supervision and comprehensive services for offenders, including housing and mental and physical health care;
family services; and
validated assessment tools to assess the risk factors of returning inmates; and
; and
in subsection
(f), by striking this section
and all that
follows and inserting the following:
this section $15,000,000 for fiscal
years 2014 through 2018.
.
Table of contents amendment
The table of contents in
section 2 of the
Second Chance Act of 2007 (
42 U.S.C. 17501 note
Public Law 110–199; 122 Stat. 657
) is amended by striking
the
item relating to section 211 and inserting the following:
Sec. 211. Community-based mentoring and transitional service grants.
.
Definitions
In general
Section 4 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17502) is amended to read as follows:
Definitions
In this Act—
the term exoneree means an individual who—
has been convicted of a Federal, tribal, or State offense that is punishable by a term of imprisonment of more than 1 year;
has served a term of imprisonment for not less than 6 months in a Federal, tribal, or State prison or correctional facility as a result of the conviction described in subparagraph (A); and
has been determined to be factually innocent of the offense described in subparagraph (A);
the term Indian tribe has the meaning given in section 901 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3791);
the term offender includes an exoneree; and
the term Transitional Jobs strategy means an employment strategy for youth and adults who are chronically unemployed or those that have barriers to employment that—
is conducted by State, tribal, and local governments, State, tribal, and local workforce boards, and nonprofit organizations;
provides time-limited employment using individual placements, team placements, and social enterprise placements, without displacing existing employees;
pays wages in accordance with applicable law, but in no event less than the higher of the rate specified in section 6(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206(a)(1)) or the applicable State or local minimum wage law, which are subsidized, in whole or in part, by public funds;
combines time-limited employment with activities that promote skill development, remove barriers to employment, and lead to unsubsidized employment such as a thorough orientation and individual assessment, job readiness and life skills training, case management and supportive services, adult education and training, child support-related services, job retention support and incentives, and other similar activities;
places participants into unsubsidized employment; and
provides job retention, re-employment services, and continuing and vocational education to ensure continuing participation in unsubsidized employment and identification of opportunities for advancement.
.
Table of contents amendment
The table of contents in
section 2 of the
Second Chance Act of 2007 (
42 U.S.C. 17501 note
Public Law 110–199; 122 Stat. 657
) is amended by striking
the
item relating to section 4 and inserting the following:
Sec. 4. Definitions.
.
Extension of the length of section 2976 grants
Section 6(1) of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (
42 U.S.C. 17504(1)
) is amended by striking 211, and 212
and inserting
and 211 or under
section 2976 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (
42 U.S.C. 3797w
)
after .and 212
Audit and accountability of grantees
Definition
In
this section, the term unresolved audit finding
means an audit
report finding or recommendation that a grantee has used grant funds for
an
unauthorized expenditure or otherwise unallowable cost that is not closed
or
resolved during a 1-year period beginning on the date of an initial
notification of the finding or recommendation.
Audit requirement
Beginning in fiscal year 2013, and every 3 years thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall conduct an audit of not less than 5 percent of all grantees that are awarded funding under—
section 2976(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w(b));
part CC of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797q et seq.), as amended by this Act;
part DD of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797s et seq.);
part JJ of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797dd et seq.); or
section 115, 201, or 211 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17511 , 17521, and 17531).
Mandatory exclusion
A grantee that is found to have an unresolved audit finding under an audit conducted under subsection (b) may not receive grant funds under the grant programs described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) in the fiscal year following the fiscal year to which the finding relates.
Priority of grant awards
The Attorney General, in awarding grants under the programs described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) shall give priority to eligible entities that during the 2-year period preceding the application for a grant have not been found to have an unresolved audit finding.
Prohibition on lobbying activity
In general
Amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out a grant program described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) may not be used by any grant recipient to—
lobby any representative of the Department of Justice regarding the award of grant funding; or
lobby any representative of a Federal, State, local, or tribal government regarding the award of grant funding.
Penalty
If the Attorney General determines that any recipient of a grant under this Act has violated paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall—
require the grant recipient to repay the grant in full; and
prohibit the grant recipient from receiving another grant under any grant program described in paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b) for not less than 5 years.
Federal reentry improvements
Responsible reintegration of offenders
Section 212 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17532 ) is repealed.
Federal prisoner reentry initiative
Section 231 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17541 ) is amended—
in subsection (g)—
in paragraph (3),
by striking carried out during fiscal years 2009 and 2010
and
inserting carried out during fiscal years 2014 through 2018
;
and
in paragraph (5)(A)—
in
clause (i), by striking 65 years
and inserting 60
years
; and
in clause (ii), by
striking or 75 percent
and inserting or
2/3
;
by striking subsection (h);
by redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (h); and
in subsection
(h), as so redesignated, by striking 2009 and 2010
and inserting
2014 through 2018
.
Enhancing reporting requirements pertaining to community corrections
Section 3624(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (5),
in the second sentence, by inserting , and number of prisoners not being
placed in community corrections facilities for each reason set forth
before , and any other information
; and
in paragraph (6),
by striking the Second Chance Act of 2007
and inserting
the
Second Chance Reauthorization Act
of 2013
.
Termination of study on effectiveness of depot naltrexone for heroin addiction
Section 244 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17554) is repealed.
Authorization of appropriations for research
Section 245 of the Second Chance Act of 2007 ( 42 U.S.C. 17555 ) is amended—
by striking
243, and 244
and inserting and 243
; and
by striking
$10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010
and inserting
$5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and
2018
.
Federal prisoner recidivism reduction programming enhancement
In general
Section 3621 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
Partnerships To expand access to reentry programs proven To reduce recidivism
Definition
The term demonstrated to reduce recidivism means that the Director of Bureau of Prisons has determined that appropriate research has been conducted and has validated the effectiveness of the type of program on recidivism.
Eligibility for recidivism reduction partnership
A faith-based or community-based nonprofit organization that provides mentoring or other programs that have been demonstrated to reduce recidivism is eligible to enter into a recidivism reduction partnership with a prison or community-based facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons.
Recidivism reduction partnerships
The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall develop policies to require wardens of prisons and community-based facilities to enter into recidivism reduction partnerships with faith-based and community-based nonprofit organizations that are willing to provide, on a volunteer basis, programs described in paragraph (2).
Reporting requirement
The Director of the Bureau of Prisons shall submit to Congress an annual report on the last day of each fiscal year that—
details, for each prison and community-based facility for the fiscal year just ended—
the number of recidivism reduction partnerships under this section that were in effect;
the number of volunteers that provided recidivism reduction programming; and
the number of recidivism reduction programming hours provided; and
explains any disparities between facilities in the numbers reported under subparagraph (A).
.
Effective date
The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Repeals
Section 2978 of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797w–2) is repealed.
Part CC of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3797q et seq.) is repealed.
Task Force on Federal programs and activities relating to reentry of offenders
Task Force Required
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the
Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health
and Human Services, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of
Agriculture, and the heads of such other agencies of the Federal
Government as the Attorney General considers appropriate, and in
collaboration with interested persons, service providers, nonprofit
organizations, States, tribal, and local governments, shall establish an
interagency task force on Federal programs and activities relating to the
reentry of offenders into the community (referred to in this section as
the Task Force
).
Duties
The Task Force shall—
identify such programs and activities that may be resulting in overlap or duplication of services, the scope of such overlap or duplication, and the relationship of such overlap and duplication to public safety, public health, and effectiveness and efficiency;
identify methods to improve collaboration and coordination of such programs and activities;
identify areas of responsibility in which improved collaboration and coordination of such programs and activities would result in increased effectiveness or efficiency;
develop innovative interagency or intergovernmental programs, activities, or procedures that would improve outcomes of reentering offenders and children of offenders;
develop methods for increasing regular communication among agencies that would increase interagency program effectiveness;
identify areas of research that can be coordinated across agencies with an emphasis on applying evidence-based practices to support, treatment, and intervention programs for reentering offenders;
identify funding areas that should be coordinated across agencies and any gaps in funding; and
in collaboration with the National Adult and Juvenile Offender Reentry Resources Center, identify successful programs currently operating and collect best practices in offender reentry from demonstration grantees and other agencies and organizations, determine the extent to which such programs and practices can be replicated, and make information on such programs and practices available to States, localities, nonprofit organizations, and others.
Report
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall submit a report, including recommendations, to Congress on barriers to reentry.
Contents
The report required under paragraph (1) shall identify Federal and other barriers to successful reentry of offenders into the community and analyze the effects of such barriers on offenders and on children and other family members of offenders, including—
admissions and evictions from Federal housing programs;
child support obligations and procedures;
Social Security benefits, veterans benefits, food stamps, and other forms of Federal public assistance;
Medicaid Program and Medicare Program procedures, requirements, regulations, and guidelines;
education programs, financial assistance, and full civic participation;
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program funding criteria and other welfare benefits;
employment and training;
reentry procedures, case planning, and transitions of persons from the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to a Federal parole or probation program or community corrections;
laws, regulations, rules, and practices that may require a parolee to return to the same county that they were living in before their arrest and therefore prevent offenders from changing their setting upon release; and
trying to establish pre-release planning procedures for prisoners to ensure that a prisoner's eligibility for Federal or State benefits (including Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and veterans benefits) upon release is established prior to release, subject to any limitations in law, and to ensure that prisoners are provided with referrals to appropriate social and health services or are referred to appropriate nonprofit organizations.
Updated reports
On an annual basis, the Task Force shall submit to Congress an updated report on the activities of the Task Force, including specific recommendations on issues described in subsections (b) and (c).
Protecting important funding for crime victims and law enforcement
Section 8(e)(1) of the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 ( 42 U.S.C. 15607(e)(1) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
Limitation
Violence Against Women Act
For purposes of this subsection, a grant program shall not be considered to be covered by this subsection if the program is administered by the Office of Violence Against Women.
Delay
During the 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 , for purposes of this subsection, a grant program shall not be considered to be covered by this subsection if the program is funded under subpart 1 of part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3750 et seq.) or section 221 of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 ( 42 U.S.C. 5631 ), except for the portion of funds used toward the construction, administration, or operations of a police lockup, jail, prison, or other detention facility.
Applicability to funds
No funds appropriated to programs described in clause (i) or (ii), including any funds appropriated before the date of enactment of the Second Chance Reauthorization Act of 2013 that remain available for obligation as of such date of enactment, may be reduced under this section.
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October 1, 2014
Reported with amendments
