SF 859

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to criminal justice; authorizing reentry projects; appropriating money;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 641.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [641.156] COUNTY JAIL REENTRY PROJECTS; GRANTS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Purpose. new text end

new text begin The purpose of the reentry project is to promote public
safety, prevent recidivism, and promote a successful reintegration into the community
by providing services to individuals confined in jails and county regional jails who are
identified as having mental illness, traumatic brain injury, chemical dependency, or being
homeless.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Grants. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of corrections, in consultation with the
commissioner of human services, shall award grants to county boards for two-year reentry
pilot projects. Projects will target prisoners in jails and county regional jails who are
identified as having:
new text end

new text begin (1) a mental illness, as defined in section 245.462, subdivision 20;
new text end

new text begin (2) a traumatic brain injury, as defined in section 256B.093, subdivision 4;
new text end

new text begin (3) chemical dependency, as defined in section 253B.02, subdivision 2; or
new text end

new text begin (4) a history of homelessness, as defined in section 116L.361, subdivision 5.
new text end

new text begin (b) The projects shall provide a range of services including, but not limited to,
screening and assessment, client-specific programming, discharge planning and reentry
assistance, and follow-up for at least six months after the prisoner has reentered the
community.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Applications. new text end

new text begin A grant applicant shall prepare and submit to the
commissioner of corrections a written proposal detailing the plan and strategies on how
the applicant will implement the program components in subdivision 4. The application
shall include a proposed evaluation component of outcome measures including, but not
limited to, numbers of prisoners served, recidivism, restoration of public benefits, and
status regarding housing, employment, and treatment needs after six months.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Program components. new text end

new text begin Each participating county shall:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop a written collaborative plan between the county jail or county regional
jail and the county social services agency;
new text end

new text begin (2) assess each prisoner upon entry into the jail or county regional jail using a
screening tool approved by the commissioner of corrections in consultation with the
commissioner of human services to identify prisoners with the characteristics listed in
subdivision 2, paragraph (a);
new text end

new text begin (3) ensure prisoners who are identified with a positive screening and who will be
incarcerated for less than 30 days are offered follow-up care and referred to appropriate
professionals;
new text end

new text begin (4) ensure prisoners who are identified as having a characteristic listed in subdivision
2, paragraph (a), and who will be incarcerated 30 days or longer, are provided with
appropriate treatment and programming including, but not limited to, mental health
treatment, counseling, living and employment skills development, substance abuse
treatment, GED and literacy training, and referrals to aftercare treatment and skills training;
new text end

new text begin (5) offer to develop a discharge plan for prisoners identified as having a characteristic
listed in subdivision 2, paragraph (a), who will be incarcerated for 90 days or longer.
Discharge planning components must include:
new text end

new text begin (i) at least 60 days prior to the prisoner's release, the person responsible for discharge
planning authorized by this section shall begin assisting the prisoner to establish, or
reestablish, benefits such as medical assistance, veterans' benefits, MinnesotaCare, general
assistance medical care, Social Security insurance, housing assistance, and submitting in
a timely manner a prisoner's application for any benefits for which the prisoner may
be eligible upon release;
new text end

new text begin (ii) obtaining informed consent and releases of information from the prisoner that
are needed for transition services, identifying treatment needs, referring the prisoner
to appropriate services in the community, and arranging for basic needs such as food,
housing, transportation, employment, and GED services;
new text end

new text begin (iii) securing appointments for a prisoner to be treated by a psychiatrist within
30 days of release, if appropriate;
new text end

new text begin (iv) securing appointments for a prisoner with a community mental health provider
and a chemical dependency provider within 30 days of release, if appropriate;
new text end

new text begin (v) ensuring that the prisoner, when released from custody, has at least a 14-day
supply of all necessary medications, and a prescription for at least a 30-day supply of all
necessary medication that can be refilled once for an additional 30-day supply;
new text end

new text begin (vi) arranging for the prisoner to have a state photo identification card when released.
The identification card must not disclose the prisoner's incarceration or criminal record
and must list an address other than the address of the jail or county regional jail. The
identification card expires on the date of birth of the holder four years after the date of
issue; and
new text end

new text begin (vii) identifying prisoners who had a case manager prior to incarceration, and
maintaining contact with that case manager to provide service coordination for the
prisoner upon release. For prisoners without a case manager, making appropriate referrals
for case management services or offering to provide follow-up services to assist the
prisoner in obtaining stable housing, public benefits, and community services for up to
six months after release;
new text end

new text begin (6) recording the number of prisoners identified under subdivision 2, paragraph (a),
and the number of prisoners who received federal benefits upon entry into the jail or
county regional jail; and
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new text begin (7) maintaining accurate records to complete the program evaluation.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant program. new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of corrections for fiscal year 2008 and $....... for fiscal year 2009 to
administer the grant program established in section 1.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Discharge planning. new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated from the general fund to
the commissioner of human services for fiscal year 2008 to fund discharge planning for
offenders with serious and persistent mental illness as defined in Minnesota Statutes,
section 245.462, subdivision 20, paragraph (c), who are pending release from correctional
facilities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Mental health courts. new text end

new text begin $....... for fiscal year 2008 and $....... for fiscal
year 2009 are appropriated from the general fund to the Supreme Court to develop and
implement standards for mental health courts.
new text end