HF 1771

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/08/2021 04:32pm

A bill for an act
relating to corrections; establishing the Peace of Hope Support for Families pilot
project to provide regular communication and related services between families
and the families' incarcerated member; providing for a report; appropriating money.

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

Section 1. new text begin PEACE OF HOPE SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES PILOT PROJECT.
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new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Grant. new text end

new text begin (a) The commissioner of corrections shall award a grant to Peace
of Hope, Inc. to develop and implement the Peace of Hope Support for Families pilot project
to provide a full-service, regularly scheduled communication experience between a family
and the family's incarcerated member. The pilot project shall assist the family of the
incarcerated member by providing, at a minimum:
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new text begin (1) education about and assistance to access the types of communication resources
available for the family's incarcerated member and the member's family;
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new text begin (2) registration assistance to the family to visit and communicate with the family's
incarcerated member;
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new text begin (3) expense reimbursement for identification cards and child care;
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new text begin (4) chaperones for minor family members visiting the family's adult incarcerated member;
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new text begin (5) round-trip transportation for family members to visit the family's member at the
correctional facility or jail where the family member is incarcerated;
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new text begin (6) policy interpretation for family members; and
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new text begin (7) roundtable interactive counseling for the family members of the family's incarcerated
member during and following the member's incarceration.
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new text begin (b) The Peace of Hope Support for Families pilot project shall serve families of
incarcerated family members who are of all offender risk levels and who are incarcerated
in state correctional facilities or jails. The pilot project shall operate from September 1,
2021, through August 31, 2023.
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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 communication barriers that family members of an incarcerated family
member experience when trying to communicate with the family member incarcerated at
a correctional facility or jail by providing adequate, reliable, and consistent communication
resources and solutions;
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new text begin (2) promote family unity and strengthen the bonds of the family network during and
following the incarceration of a family member;
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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 communicate with an
incarcerated family member;
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new text begin (4) improve on the state's proven reduction in recidivism record by increasing visitation
between family members and the family's incarcerated member which is proven quantitatively
and qualitatively to be a highly effective tool in reducing recidivism; and
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new text begin (5) decrease the level of agitation and possible violence within correctional facilities by
encouraging future family unification through consistent communication 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, 2023, 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 under this section.
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Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
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new text begin $800,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of corrections for a grant to Peace of Hope, Inc. for the Peace of Hope Support for Families
pilot project under section 1. This appropriation is available through November 1, 2023.
new text end