SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5117
As of January 20, 2021
Title: An act relating to rental vouchers to eligible offenders.
Brief Description: Concerning rental vouchers to eligible offenders.
Sponsors: Senators Nguyen, Salda?a, Billig, Darneille, Das, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Lovelett, Muzzall, Robinson and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation: 1/21/21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows the Department of Corrections to extend the rental voucher period from three to six months if rental assistance will result in an approved release plan for the eligible incarcerated individual, subject to appropriations.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES, REENTRY & REHABILITATION
Staff: Kelsey-anne Fung (786-7479)
Background:

Generally, individuals incarcerated at correctional facilities operated by the Washington State Department of Corrections (DOC) may earn early release time for good behavior and good performance, subject to certain exceptions.  Certain individuals who are eligible for earned early release and who are required to serve a term of community custody under the supervision of DOC must be transferred to community custody in lieu of earned release time.  These individuals must propose a release plan with an approved residence and living arrangement prior to release to the community.  DOC may deny transfer if the release plan violates supervision or sentence conditions, presents a risk to victim or community safety, or places the incarcerated individual at risk to reoffend or violate sentence conditions.

 

If DOC is unable to approve the incarcerated individual's release plan, DOC may:

  • transfer the person to partial confinement for up to three months; and/or
  • provide rental vouchers for up to three months if rental assistance will result in an approved release plan.

 

Rental vouchers must be provided in conjunction with additional transition support programming or services, including but not limited to, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, sex offender treatment, educational programming, or employment programming.
Summary of Bill:

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, DOC may provide rental vouchers to an eligible incarcerated individual for up to six months in total if rental assistance will result in an approved release plan.
Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.