H.B.
113
127th General Assembly
(As Reported by H. Criminal Justice)
Reps. White and Luckie, Combs, J. McGregor, Peterson, Seitz, Webster, Setzer, Latta, Flowers, Schneider, Wagoner, Otterman, Strahorn, Adams, Widener
BILL SUMMARY
· Requires the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction ("DRC") and the Department of Youth Services ("DYS") to permit representatives of all nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that are registered with DRC or DYS, as applicable, to enter institutions under the control of DRC or DYS for the purpose of providing reentry services to inmates or delinquent children.
· Directs both DRC and DYS to post a department telephone number on their official web sites that the nonprofit organizations described in the preceding dotpoint may call to obtain information about providing reentry services and to list on the web site all of the organizations that are registered to provide reentry services.
· Prohibits DRC and DYS from endorsing or sponsoring any faith-based reentry program, from endorsing any specific religious message, and from requiring an inmate or delinquent child to participate in a faith-based program.
· Requires DRC and DYS to annually issue a written report on their progress in implementing the recommendations of the Correctional Faith-Based Initiatives Task Force and provide a copy of the written report to all members of the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee.
CONTENT AND OPERATION
The bill requires the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction ("DRC") and the Department of Youth Services ("DYS") to permit representatives of all nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that are registered with DRC or DYS, as applicable, to enter institutions under the control of DRC or DYS for the purpose of providing reentry services to inmates or delinquent children. Reentry services may include, but are not limited to, counseling, housing, job-placement, and money-management assistance.
The bill additionally requires both DRC and DYS to post a department telephone number on the official web sites of DRC or DYS that nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that wish to provide reentry services to inmates or delinquent children may call to obtain information. The web sites must also list all of the organizations that are registered with DRC or DYS to provide reentry services.
The bill requires DRC and DYS to actively recruit nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations to provide reentry services to inmates and delinquent children. While the bill requires DRC and DYS to recruit nonprofit organizations from all faiths and beliefs, the bill also prohibits DRC and DYS from endorsing or sponsoring any faith-based reentry program or from endorsing any specific religious message. Neither DRC nor DYS may require an inmate or delinquent child to participate in a faith-based program.
Both DRC and DYS are required to adopt rules for the screening and registration of nonprofit faith-based, business, professional, civic, educational, and community organizations that apply to provide reentry services in institutions under the control of either DRC or DYS.
Finally, the bill requires DRC and DYS to issue annual written reports on their progress in implementing the recommendations of the Correctional Faith-Based Initiatives Task Force (see COMMENT). DRC and DYS must provide a copy of the written report to all members of the Correctional Institution Inspection Committee. (R.C. 5120.034 and 5139.14.)
COMMENT
Section 503.09 of
Am. Sub. H.B. 66 of the 126th General Assembly established the Correctional
Faith-Based Initiatives Task Force. The
Task Force was charged with studying seamless faith-based solutions to problems
in the correctional system and existing faith-based programs in prisons in Ohio
and other states. The Task Force was
required to submit a report and recommendations to the General Assembly and the
Governor after which the Task Force ceased to exist. The Task Force's report is available at:
http://www.drc.state.oh.us/
web/FB.PDF.
HISTORY
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ACTION |
DATE |
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Introduced |
03-20-07 |
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Reported, H. Criminal Justice |
05-29-07 |
h0113-rh-127.doc/kl