AN ACT Relating to providing postsecondary education opportunities to enhance public safety; amending 2017 c 120 s 1 (uncodified); creating a new section; and providing an expiration date.

(1) The legislature finds that studies clearly and consistently demonstrate that incarcerated adults who obtain ((associate degree))postsecondary education and training are more likely to be employed following release, which leads to a dramatic reduction in recidivism rates, significant improvements in public safety, and a major return on investment. The legislature finds that reducing recidivism would decrease the financial burden to taxpayers and the emotional burden of victims.

(2) The legislature finds that research indicates that ((associate degree))postsecondary education and training is an effective evidence-based practice for reducing recidivism. An analysis commissioned by the United States department of justice determined that adults who received such education while incarcerated were forty-three percent less likely to recidivate.

(3) Ninety-five percent of incarcerated adults ultimately return to their communities to obtain employment and contribute to society. The legislature finds that according to the bureau of labor statistics, unemployment rates for people with only a high school education are twice that of those with an associate degree. Research has shown that adults who participated in such education while incarcerated were thirteen percent more likely to be employed.

(4) The legislature further finds that correctional education is cost-effective. A 2014 study by the Washington state institute for public policy estimated that the state received a return on investment of twenty dollars for every dollar invested in correctional education.

(5) It is the intent of the legislature to enhance public safety ((by reducing)), reduce crime ((and increasing)), and increase employment rates in a cost-effective manner by ((authorizing associate degree))exploring benefits and costs associated with providing postsecondary education degree opportunities and training ((of))to incarcerated adults through expanded partnerships between the community and technical colleges and the department of corrections.

(6) ((The legislature does not intend to provide additional funding to the department of corrections with chapter 120, Laws of 2017 and intends that the department of corrections incorporate associate degree education into its available educational and vocational opportunities for offenders within existing funds set aside for this purpose.))It is the intent of the legislature to support exploring the use of secure internet connections expressly for the purposes of furthering postsecondary education degree opportunities and training of incarcerated adults. The legislature intends for the department to be able to provide complete assurance that all offender-used internet connections are secure.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the department of corrections, the state board for community and technical colleges, and the office of the chief information officer shall submit, in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, a report to the governor and the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2019, including the following:

(b) The barriers and costs associated with implementing secure internet connections for the purpose of postsecondary education and training of incarcerated individuals;

(c) A review of the fiscal impacts, including any estimated capital and operating costs associated with expanding current educational opportunities to include providing postsecondary education degree opportunities and training to incarcerated adults through expanded partnerships between the community and technical colleges and the department of corrections;

(d) A plan for implementing the expansion of postsecondary education degree opportunities, specifying the estimated period of time necessary for implementation, within the estimated costs associated with the fiscal impacts reviewed in (c) of this subsection.

(2) The department may not implement or utilize a new secure internet connection for offender postsecondary education until the legislature reviews the report mentioned in this section.