SB 007 Signed Into Law - Help People In Jail Access Benefits

CONCERNING ASSISTANCE TO INMATES PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM COUNTY
JAILS, AND MAKING AN APPROPRIATION IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.

17-26-138. Benefits assistance - legislative declaration -
demonstration grant program - repeal.

(1) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HEREBY FINDS AND DECLARES THAT:
(a) MANY PERSONS TRANSITIONING FROM JAILS HAVE A DIFFICULT
TIME ACCESSING HEALTH CARE, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS THAT
ARE IMPORTANT IF THE PERSONS ARE TO AVOID REENTRY INTO THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM.

(3) THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES AND THE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH CARE POLICY AND FINANCING SHALL PROVIDE TRAINING TO
APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO ASSIST INMATES IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC
BENEFITS PRIOR TO RELEASE.

(4) (a) THERE IS HEREBY CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES THE INMATE ASSISTANCE DEMONSTRATION GRANT PROGRAM,
REFERRED TO IN THIS SUBSECTION (4) AS THE "DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM",
TO PROVIDE GRANTS TO COUNTIES OR GROUPS OF COUNTIES DESIGNED TO
ASSIST INMATES IN COUNTY JAILS IN ACCESSING HEALTH CARE, HOUSING,
AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

(b) ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 15, 2008, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
PAGE 3-SENATE BILL 08-007
SERVICES SHALL DEVELOP AND ISSUE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO
CONDUCT TWO-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS COMMENCING JANUARY
1, 2009, THAT:

(I) PROVIDE FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN JAIL PERSONNEL,
PERSONNEL FROM THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND
COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS, AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES;
AND

(II) PROVIDE FOR THE MONITORING OF THE RECEIPT OF ANY HEALTH
CARE, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO WHICH AN INMATE MAY BE
ENTITLED AND THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF INMATES WHO RECEIVED
ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS.

(c) ON OR BEFORE OCTOBER 1, 2008, A COUNTY OR GROUP OF
COUNTIES MAY SUBMIT A RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS THAT
INCLUDES, AT A MINIMUM:

(I) IDENTIFICATION OF KEY STAKEHOLDERS WILLING TO
COLLABORATE ON THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM;

(II) IDENTIFICATION OF THE USES OF MONEYS PROPOSED TO BE
RECEIVED FROM THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM AND THE SOURCES AND
USES OF ADDITIONAL MONEYS PROPOSED TO BE USED; AND

(III) A DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD TO BE USED TO EVALUATE THE
DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

(d) ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 15, 2008, THE DEPARTMENT OF
HUMAN SERVICES SHALL AWARD GRANTS TO COUNTIES OR GROUPS OF
COUNTIES. IN MAKING THE AWARDS, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
SHALL ATTEMPT TO AWARD GRANTS TO BOTH URBAN AND RURAL COUNTIES
AND TO COUNTIES IN DIVERSE GEOGRAPHIC AREAS OF THE STATE.

(e) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2011, THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN
SERVICES SHALL SUBMIT TO THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE
AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, OR ANY SUCCESSOR COMMITTEES, A
REPORT DESCRIBING THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS AND EVALUATING THE
SUCCESS OF EACH DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

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