Legislature(2019 - 2020)GRUENBERG 120
04/04/2019 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
Note: the audio and video recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
Audio | Topic |
---|---|
Start | |
HB98 | |
Confirmation Hearing(s) | |
Commissioner, Department of Public Safety | |
HB115 | |
HB118 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
*+ | HB 118 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+ | TELECONFERENCED | ||
+= | HB 115 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+= | HB 98 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 118-OFFENDER REENTRY PLANNING BY CORRECTIONS 5:42:50 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 118, "An Act relating to the duties of the commissioner of corrections; and relating to planning for prisoner reentry." 5:42:59 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS, as prime sponsor, presented HB 118 with the use of a PowerPoint presentation, entitled "House Bill 118." He turned to slide 2, entitled "Background," which graphically illustrates the decline in Alaska recidivism rates by calendar year [CY2011 - CY2015]. He reviewed the bullet points on the slide, which read: • Reentry provides resources for citizens to successfully transition back in to our communities by utilizing individualized case management, programming, and support services • Alaska has begun to see a steady decline in recidivism • Reentry push began in 2010 and has spanned multiple administrations CO-CHAIR FIELDS referred to slide 3, entitled "Offender Management Plans (OMPs)," and described them using the bullet points on the slide, which read: • Used as a Case Plan for coordination between the Department of Corrections and Reentrant and Community Providers • Case Plans are live documents developed after prisoner intake and are updated prior to transition and release into the community • Prioritizes needs for citizens to have successful transition out of incarceration • Based off of risk treatment assessment • Addresses • Medical treatment • Mental health • Housing needs • Financial issues • Job skills • Life skills • Education • And more CO-CHAIR FIELDS pointed out that the more effective an OPM is the fewer people reenter incarceration through recidivism. CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved to slide 4, entitled "Reentry Coalitions Across the State," and relayed the developments listed on the slide, which read: • Reentry Service: any service provided by a community or state organization that serves individuals released from the criminal justice system back into the community • Reentry coalitions: • Facilitate community assessment of assets, barriers, and gaps for returning citizens • Develop solutions for case coordination challenges using evidence based approaches • Design and implement a Comprehensive Community Reentry Plan • Coordinate Offender Management Plans • Participants in Reentry Coalitions include Alaska Division of Public Health, Alaska House Finance Corporation, The Salvation Army, Alaska Native Justice Center, The Alaska Labor Exchange System, Chanlyut, Nine Start Education & Employment Services, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Southcentral Foundation, Partners for Progress, and Cook Inlet Tribal Council. 5:46:38 PM CO-CHAIR FIELDS referred to slide 5, entitled "Reentry Coalitions in Alaska," which shows the locations of reentry coalitions on the Alaska map and lists them as follows: • Coalitions in Anchorage, Matsu, Fairbanks, Juneau, Kenai, Dillingham, Nome, Ketchikan CO-CHAIR FIELDS moved on to slide 6, entitled "What is currently in law?" and reviewed the legal requirements, which read: • Reentry planning • DOC must establish an institutional case plan for every individual serving a term of 30 days or more • DOC must establish a reentry plan for every individual serving a term of 30 days or more • DOC is required to work with prisoners within 90 days of their release date in order to establish a written reentry plan • We hope to build on long term planning for success after release with this bill CO-CHAIR FIELDS turned to slide 7, entitled "House Bill 118," to summarize HB 118, which read in part: • HB 118 requires that a written case plan take effect within 90 days after a prisoner's sentencing • HB 118 ensures that the DOC collaborates with community reentry coalitions and other providers of reentry services when developing a written case plan 5:48:45 PM CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS asked about the growth of reentry coalitions over the past 10 years. CO-CHAIR FIELDS replied that his recollection is that several years ago when he worked for the Department of Labor & Workforce Development (DOLWD), the only active community reentry coalitions were in Southcentral Alaska; now they are all over the state. There were individuals and groups working on reentry issues; however, they weren't organized as reentry coalitions comprehensively looking at wraparound services, housing, substance abuse treatment, and employment in a community. CO-CHAIR FIELDS continued to review slide 7, which read in part: • HB 118 establishes new metrics tracking the results of the program that conducts assessments of the risks and needs of offenders and a report presented to the legislature that includes • Number of prisoners provided written case plans, percentage of target population that number represents • Number of written case plans initiated within the preceding year • Number of written case plans updated in the preceding year CO-CHAIR FIELDS added that data will assist in measuring the success of reentry programs - giving the state an opportunity to strengthen programs or make changes. He also added that the number of updated case plans speaks to how active the plans are. 5:51:30 PM REPRESENTATIVE WOOL moved to adopt the committee substitute (CS) for HB 118, Version 31-LS0724\S, Radford, 4/3/19, as the working document. There being no objection, Version S was before the committee. CO-CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS stated that HB 118, Version S, would be held over.