SENATE BILL REPORT

SSB 5077

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Title: An act relating to allowing the department of corrections to provide temporary housing assistance to individuals being released from certain corrections centers for women.

Brief Description: Allowing the department of corrections to provide temporary housing assistance to individuals being released from certain corrections centers for women.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Angel, Darneille, Padden, Wilson, Rolfes, Keiser, Mullet, Wellman, Conway and Saldaña).

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Allows the Department of Corrections (DOC) to provide rental vouchers for up to three months to any person releasing from the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) or the Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW), if the assistance will support the person's release into the community.
Requires DOC to submit a report no later than November 1, 2020, to the Legislature on the effectiveness of providing rental vouchers to persons releasing from WCCW and MCCCW.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5077 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Padden, Chair; O'Ban, Vice Chair; Pedersen, Ranking Minority Member; Angel, Darneille, Frockt and Wilson.

Background: Before a person may be released from confinement to community custody, DOC must approve the person's release plan. The release plan includes the specific residence and living arrangements of the person. DOC can deny the person's release plan if the person does not have an approved living arrangement. In 2009, the Legislature authorized DOC to provide rental vouchers to a releasing person for a period up to three months, if the vouchers will assist the person in obtaining an approved living arrangement. Only persons releasing to community custody are eligible for rental vouchers.

Any person releasing from DOC must be provided with suitable clothing, the sum of $40, and transportation, not to exceed $100, from the place of release to the person's residence. An additional $60 may be provided for personal and living expenses upon application and approval by the person's community corrections officer.

Summary of First Substitute Bill: Within existing funds, DOC may provide rental vouchers for a period up to three months to any person releasing from WCCW or MCCCW if the assistance will support the person's release into the community.

No later than November 1, 2020, DOC must submit a report to the Legislature, detailing:

the number of individuals provided with housing assistance;
the ability of the individual to maintain housing at the conclusion of the rental voucher period; and
the recidivism rate of those provided with housing assistance.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill:: The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: This is a good little bill to give DOC the authority to provide temporary housing to women exiting the system who might otherwise be homeless. Homelessness is a contributing factor to recidivism. Three months is a reasonable time period and the bill requires DOC to report back to see if the assistance has an impact on recidivism. Transition from prison to the community poses risk. Stable housing is one area where DOC can insert some stability. Fifteen women from WCCW and one woman from Mission Creek Corrections Center for Women (MCCCW) released homeless last year. MCCCW is a minimum security facility for women serving women who have five years or left to serve of their sentence. MCCCW should also be added to this bill.