SB 6045 - DIGEST

     Directs the employment security department to provide, subject to available funds, transitional employment services to eligible offenders.  Transitional employment services may include:  (1) Skill identification;

     (2) job finding techniques;

     (3) supportive services necessary for offenders to obtain or retain jobs;

     (4) job referrals and direct placement; and

     (5) facilitating employment upgrades after initial placements.

     Declares that offenders are eligible for transitional employment services if they:  (1) Are in a work release program;

     (2) are under community supervision or community placement; or

     (3) have been released from a correctional facility within the previous two years.

     Requires the employment security department to develop and implement a method for evaluating the outcomes of the services provided, including the extent to which the transitional employment services affect the recidivism rates of participating offenders in comparison with the recidivism rates of nonparticipating offenders.

     Makes an appropriation of eight hundred thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the administrative contingency fund to the employment security department for the purposes of providing transitional employment services to ex-offenders through the ex-offender work orientation program.

     Makes an appropriation of five hundred thousand dollars for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the employment security department for the purposes of providing transitional employment services to ex-offenders through the ex-offender work orientation program.