5070-S2 AMH GOOD HALL 252

2SSB 5070 - H AMD TO HS COMM AMD (5070-S2.E AMH HS H3165.2) 647

By Representative Goodman

   On page 41, after line 10, strike all of section 704 and insert the following:

   "NEW SECTION. Sec. 704 (1) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall establish a pilot program to provide transitional housing assistance to offenders who are reentering the community and are in need of housing.

     (2) There shall be a minimum of two pilot programs established in two counties in which community justice centers are located. The pilot programs shall be selected in consultation with the counties in which the pilots would be located. The department shall select the pilot site by September 1, 2007.

   (3) The pilot program shall:

   (a) Be operated in collaboration with the community justice center existing in the location of the pilot site;

   (b) Offer transitional supportive housing that includes individual support and mentoring available on an ongoing basis, life skills training, and close working relationships with community justice centers and community corrections officers. Supportive housing services can be provided directly by the housing operator, or in partnership with community-based organizations;

   (c) In providing assistance, give priority to offenders who are designated as high risk or high needs as well as those determined not to have a viable release plan by the department of corrections; and

   (d) Optimize available funding by issuing vouchers for cost-effective community-based shared housing arrangements or other non-institutional living arrangements.

   (4) The department may also use up to twenty percent of the funding appropriated in the operating budget for this section to support the development of additional supportive housing resources for offenders who are reentering the community.

    (5) The department shall:

   (a) Collaborate with the department of corrections in developing criteria to determine who will qualify for housing assistance; and

   (b) Gather data, and report to the legislature by December 1, 2007, on the number of offenders seeking housing, the number of offenders eligible for housing, the number of offenders who receive the housing, and the number of offenders who commit new crimes while residing in the housing.

   (6) The state, the department, and its employees are not liable for civil damages arising from the conduct of an offender due to the placement of an offender in short-term housing or the provision of housing assistance."

EFFECT: Makes the following changes to the transitional housing program:

   •     expands the supportive living requirements for the housing program;

   •     requires the program give priority to high risk and high needs offenders, as well as those without a viable release plan;

   •     requires the program to optimize funding through the use of vouchers for cost-effective community-based shared housing;

   •     allows CTED to use up to 20% of the funding appropriated to the program for development of additional supportive housing.