One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2022
This bill authorizes grants to support community-based reentry resources for previously incarcerated individuals who return to their communities.
First, the bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants for community-based nonprofit organizations to create community reentry centers.
Second, the bill authorizes DOJ to make grants for states, Indian tribes, and local governments to operate reentry services assistance hotlines.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3372 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3372
To authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to
operate one-stop reentry centers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 20, 2021
Ms. Bass (for herself and Mr. Reschenthaler) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to
operate one-stop reentry centers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``One Stop Shop Community Reentry
Program Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. COMMUNITY REENTRY CENTER GRANT PROGRAM.
(a) Program Authorized.--The Attorney General is authorized to
carry out a grant program to make grants to eligible entities for the
purpose of creating community reentry centers.
(b) Application Requirements.--Each application for a grant under
this section shall--
(1) demonstrate a plan to work with community leaders who
interact with formerly incarcerated people and their families
to--
(A) identify specific strategies and approaches to
providing reentry services;
(B) develop a needs assessment tool to survey or
conduct focus groups with community members in order to
identify--
(i) the needs of individuals returning to
the community after conviction or
incarceration, and the barriers such
individuals face; and
(ii) the needs of the families and
communities to which such individuals are
returning; and
(C) use the information gathered pursuant to
subparagraph (B) to determine the reentry services to
be provided by the community reentry center;
(2) identify the correctional institutions from which
individuals who are released from incarceration are likely to
reenter the community served by the community reentry center,
and develop a plan, if feasible, to provide transportation for
such released individuals to the community reentry center, to
the individual's residence, or to a location where the
individual is ordered by a court to report;
(3) demonstrate a plan to provide accessible notice of the
location of the reentry intake and coordination center and the
services that it will provide (either directly or on a referral
basis), including, where feasible, within and outside of
correctional institutions identified under paragraph (1);
(4) demonstrate a plan to provide intake and reentry needs
assessment that is trauma-informed and gender-responsive after
an individual is released from a correctional institution, or,
in the case of an individual who is convicted of an offense and
not sentenced to a term of imprisonment, after such conviction,
and where feasible, before release, to ensure that the
individuals served by the center are referred to appropriate
reentry services based on the individual's needs immediately
upon release from a correctional institution or after
conviction, and continuously thereafter as needed;
(5) demonstrate a plan to provide the reentry services
identified in paragraph (1)(C);
(6) demonstrate a plan to continue to provide services
(including through referral) for individuals served by the
center who move to a different geographic area to ensure
appropriate case management, case planning, and access to
continuous or new services, where necessary, and based on
consistent reevaluation of needs;
(7) identify specific methods that the community reentry
center will employ to achieve performance objectives among the
individuals served by the center, including--
(A) increased access to and participation in
reentry services;
(B) reduction in recidivism rates;
(C) increased numbers of individuals obtaining and
retaining employment;
(D) increased enrollment in and degrees earned from
educational programs, including high school, GED, and
institutions of higher education;
(E) increased numbers of individuals obtaining and
maintaining housing; and
(F) increased self-reports of successful community
living, including stability of living situation and
positive family relationships; and
(8) to the extent practicable, identify State, local, and
private funds available to supplement the funds received under
this section.
(c) Preference.--The Attorney General shall give preference to
applicants that demonstrate that they seek to employ individuals who
have been convicted of an offense, or served a term of imprisonment and
have completed any court-ordered supervision, or that, to the extent
allowable by law, employ such formerly incarcerated individuals in
positions of responsibility.
(d) Evaluation and Report.--
(1) Evaluation.--The Attorney General shall enter into a
contract with a nonprofit organization with expertise in
analyzing data related to reentry services and recidivism to
monitor and evaluate each recipient of a grant and each
community reentry center receiving funds under this section on
an ongoing basis.
(2) Administrative burden.--The nonprofit organization
described in paragraph (1) shall provide administrative support
to assist recipients of grants authorized by this Act to comply
with the conditions associated with the receipt of funding from
the Department of Justice.
(3) Report.--Not later than one year after the date on
which grants are initially made under this section, and
annually thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit to
Congress a report on the program, which shall include--
(A) the number of grants made, the number of
eligible entities receiving such grants, and the amount
of funding distributed to each eligible entity pursuant
to this section;
(B) the location of each eligible entity receiving
such a grant, and the population served by the
community reentry center;
(C) the number of persons who have participated in
reentry services offered by a community reentry center,
disaggregated by type of services, and success rates of
participants in each service to the extent possible;
(D) the number of persons who have participated in
reentry services for which they received a referral
from a community reentry center, disaggregated by type
of services, and success rates of participants in each
service;
(E) recidivism rates within the population served
by each community reentry center, both before and after
receiving a grant under this section;
(F) the numbers of individuals obtaining and
retaining employment within the population served by
each community reentry center, both before and after
receiving a grant under this section; and
(G) the number of individuals obtaining and
maintaining housing within the population served by
each community reentry center, both before and after
receiving a grant under this section.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Community leader.--The term ``community leader''--
(A) means an individual who serves the community in
a leadership role; and
(B) includes--
(i) a school official;
(ii) a faith leader;
(iii) a social service provider;
(iv) a member of a neighborhood
association;
(v) a public safety representative;
(vi) an employee of an organization that
provides reentry services;
(vii) a member of a civic or volunteer
group related to the provision of reentry
services;
(viii) a health care professional; and
(ix) an employee of a State, local, or
tribal government agency with expertise in the
provision of reentry services.
(2) Community reentry center.--The term ``community reentry
center'' means a center that--
(A) offers intake, reentry needs assessments, case
management, and case planning for reentry services for
individuals returning to the community after conviction
or incarceration;
(B) provides the reentry services identified under
subsection (b)(1)(C) at a single location; and
(C) provides referrals to appropriate service
providers based on the assessment of needs of the
individuals.
(3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
community-based nonprofit organization that--
(A) has expertise in the provision of reentry
services; and
(B) is located in a geographic area that has
disproportionately high numbers of residents, when
compared to the local community, who--
(i) have been arrested;
(ii) have been convicted of a criminal
offense; and
(iii) return to such geographic area after
incarceration.
(4) Reentry services.--The term ``reentry services''--
(A) means comprehensive and holistic services that
improve outcomes for individuals returning to the
community after conviction or incarceration; and
(B) includes--
(i) seeking and maintaining employment,
including through assistance with drafting
resumes, establishing emails accounts, locating
job solicitations, submitting of job
applications, and preparing for interviews;
(ii) placement in job placement programs
that partner with private employers;
(iii) obtaining free and low-cost job
skills classes, including computer skills,
technical skills, vocational skills, and any
other job-related skills;
(iv) locating and maintaining housing,
which may include counseling on public housing
opportunities, assisting with applications for
public housing benefits, locating and securing
temporary or long-term shelter, and applying
for home energy and utility assistance
programs;
(v) obtaining identification cards and
driver's licenses;
(vi) registering to vote, and applying for
voting rights to be restored, where permitted
by law;
(vii) applying for or accessing GED
courses;
(viii) applying for loans for and admission
to institutions of higher education;
(ix) financial counseling;
(x) legal assistance or referrals for
record expungement, forfeiture of property or
assets, family law and custody matters, legal
aid services (including other civil legal aid
services), and relevant civil matters including
housing and other issues;
(xi) retrieving property or funds retained
by the arresting agency or facility of
incarceration, or retrieving property or funds
obtained while incarcerated;
(xii) transportation, including through
provision of transit fare;
(xiii) familial counseling;
(xiv) problem-solving, in coordination with
counsel where necessary, any difficulties in
compliance with court-ordered supervision
requirements, including restrictions on living
with certain family members, contact with
certain friends, bond requirements, location
and residency restrictions, electronic
monitoring compliance, court-ordered substance
abuse, and other court-ordered requirements;
(xv) communication needs, including
providing a mobile phone, mobile phone service
or access, or internet access;
(xvi) applying for State or Federal
government benefits, where eligible, and
assisting in locating free or reduced cost food
and sustenance benefits;
(xvii) life skills assistance;
(xviii) mentorship;
(xix) medical and mental health services,
and cognitive-behavioral programming;
(xx) substance abuse treatment;
(xxi) reactivation, application for, and
maintenance of professional or other licenses;
and
(xxii) providing case management services,
in connection with court-ordered terms of
release, or other local publicly supported
social work case management.
(5) Success rate.--The term ``success rate'' means the rate
of recidivism (as measured by a subsequent conviction or return
to prison), job placement, permanent housing placement, or
completion of certification, trade, or other education program.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to carry
out this section.
(2) Equitable distribution.--The Attorney General shall
ensure that grants awarded under this section are equitably
distributed among the geographical regions and between urban
and rural populations, including Indian Tribes, consistent with
the objective of reducing recidivism.
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR REENTRY SERVICES ASSISTANCE HOTLINES.
(a) Grants Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Attorney General is authorized to make
grants to States, Indian Tribes, and units of local government
to operate reentry services assistance hotlines that are toll-
free and operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(2) Grant period.--A grant made under paragraph (1) shall
be for a period of not more than 5 years.
(b) Hotline Requirements.--A grant recipient shall ensure, with
respect to a hotline funded by a grant under subsection (a), that--
(1) the hotline directs individuals to local reentry
services (as such term is defined in section 2(e));
(2) any personally identifiable information that an
individual provides to an agency of the State or Indian Tribe
through the hotline is not directly or indirectly disclosed,
without the consent of the individual, to any other agency or
entity, or person;
(3) the staff members who operate the hotline are trained
to be knowledgeable about--
(A) applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and local
reentry services; and
(B) the unique barriers to successful reentry into
the community after a person has been convicted or
incarcerated;
(4) the hotline is accessible to--
(A) individuals with limited English proficiency,
where appropriate; and
(B) individuals with disabilities;
(5) the hotline has the capability to engage with
individuals using text messages.
(c) Best Practices.--The Attorney General shall issue guidance to
grant recipients on best practices for implementing the requirements of
subsection (b).
(d) Preference.--The Attorney General shall give preference to
applicants that demonstrate that they seek to employ individuals to
operate the hotline who have been convicted of an offense, or have
served a term of imprisonment and have completed any court-ordered
supervision.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(2) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; and
(D) any other territory or possession of the United
States.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated $1,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to
carry out this section.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Ordered to be Reported.
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-584.
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 117-584.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 424.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 1499 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3372, H.R. 6878, H.R. 8876 and H.J. Res. 100. The resolution provides for adoption of H. Res. 1495 and H. Con. Res. 118.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 1499. (consideration: CR H8679-8686; text: CR H8679-8681)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3372, H.R. 6878, H.R. 8876 and H.J. Res. 100. The resolution provides for adoption of H. Res. 1495 and H. Con. Res. 118.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 3372.
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DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 1499, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Scanlon amendment No. 1.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.R. 3372, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Jordan demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H8693-8694)
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 259 - 167 (Roll no. 492).
Roll Call #492 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 259 - 167 (Roll no. 492).
Roll Call #492 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.