SF 1867

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 02/28/2019 03:02pm

A bill for an act
relating to corrections; establishing the Peace of Hope Transit Rides pilot project
to provide transportation and related services for families of incarcerated offenders
to visit loved ones incarcerated in state correctional facilities; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PEACE OF HOPE TRANSIT RIDES PILOT PROJECT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of corrections shall award a grant to Peace of
Hope, Inc. to develop and implement the Peace of Hope Transit Rides pilot project to expand
Peace of Hope's current service providing transportation to families of incarcerated offenders
to visit the offender in a correctional facility. Peace of Hope shall facilitate an entire
full-service, regularly scheduled, round-trip transportation experience with designated
pick-up locations, and other options when applicable for families of an incarcerated offender
including, at a minimum:
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new text begin (1) registration;
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new text begin (2) information through orientation;
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new text begin (3) support of family members of the incarcerated offender;
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new text begin (4) sharing resources; and
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new text begin (5) follow-up for up to six months after the visit.
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new text begin The Peace of Hope Transit Rides pilot project shall serve families visiting incarcerated
offenders who are of all offender risk levels and who are incarcerated in state correctional
facilities. The pilot project is from September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2021.
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new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Goals. new text end

new text begin The goals of the pilot project are to:
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new text begin (1) remove transportation to state correctional facilities as the main barrier to visitation
by families of incarcerated offenders by providing adequate, reliable, and consistent
transportation to the families of the incarcerated;
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new text begin (2) promote family unity and strengthen the bonds of the family network during
incarceration of one or more family members by providing age category education through
various programs of Peace of Hope and related partners;
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new text begin (3) relieve stresses such as separation anxiety, severe depression, fear, inability to function
at the highest level in social settings including at a minimum work and school, and many
other maladies associated with family members who are unable to visit incarcerated loved
ones due to lack of transportation;
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new text begin (4) encourage continued parenting for the benefit of the children of incarcerated family
members by scheduling transportation around school schedules;
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new text begin (5) increase school and employment success for families of incarcerated offenders by
promoting hope through visitation with loved ones in state correctional facilities;
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new text begin (6) improve on the state's proven reduction in recidivism record by increasing visitation
between families of incarcerated offenders and the incarcerated offenders; and
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new text begin (7) decrease the level of agitation and possible violence within correctional facilities by
encouraging future family unification through consistent visitation as a relevant incentive.
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new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Evaluation; report. new text end

new text begin By November 1, 2021, Peace of Hope, Inc. must report
to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house of representatives and senate
committees with jurisdiction over corrections on the development, implementation, impact,
and outcomes of the pilot project.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $800,000 in fiscal year 2020 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of corrections for a grant to Peace of Hope, Inc. for the Peace of Hope Transit Rides pilot
project under section 1. This appropriation is a available until expended.
new text end