SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5441

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.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation, January 23, 2019

Ways & Means, February 26, 2019

Committee Activity: Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation: 1/23/19 [DP-WM].

Ways & Means: 2/13/19, 2/26/19 [DPS, w/oRec].

Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill

Allows the Department of Corrections to extend the voucher period for offenders up to a maximum of six months when deemed necessary, subject to appropriations.

Majority Report: Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Darneille, Chair; Nguyen, Vice Chair; Walsh, Ranking Member; Cleveland, O'Ban, Wilson, C. and Zeiger.

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5441 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

Signed by Senators Rolfes, Chair; Frockt, Vice Chair, Operating, Capital Lead; Mullet, Capital Budget Cabinet; Braun, Ranking Member; Honeyford, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Bailey, Billig, Carlyle, Conway, Darneille, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Liias, Palumbo, Pedersen, Rivers, Van De Wege, Wagoner and Warnick.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.

Signed by Senators Brown, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Becker, Schoesler and Wilson, L..

Background: According to Hamilton, Kigerl, & Hays' 2013 report, Removing Release Impediments and Reducing Correctional Costs: Evaluation of Washington State’s Housing Voucher Program, "homelessness is a persistent problem facing offenders returning to the community from prison. Many offenders were homeless prior to incarceration, and often return to homelessness after release."

The Department of Corrections (DOC) Housing Voucher Program (HVP) is a reentry program that pays for returning offenders’ rent expenses in private housing for up to three months following their release, in order to support offenders living in stable housing.

Summary of Bill (First Substitute): Allows DOC to extend the voucher period for offenders up to a maximum of six months when deemed necessary under the housing voucher program, subject to appropriations.

EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Makes DOC's ability to extend the voucher period for offenders up to a maximum of six months when deemed necessary, subject to appropriations.

Appropriation: The bill contains a section or sections to limit implementation to the availability of amounts appropriated for that specific purpose.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Draft Bill (Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation): PRO: Housing affordably is difficult. This bill would make a tremendous impact. You can judge a society by how it treats its prisoners and those who are released. Six months is not long enough; it should be 12 months and fully funded. We want to make this more effective and work with you and landlords to make this work. It is a chronic problem that needs to be fully funded. It is important, but does not have enough money. Rather than having people reoffend, this could stabilize people.

OTHER: Currently funded for 280 each month and the demand exceeds the supply. At least 350 vouchers per month are needed. Absent additional funding, this would cut the number of people we can serve in half.

Persons Testifying (Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation): PRO: Roger Valdez, Seattle for Growth; Zak Kinneman, What's Next Washington; Nick Federici, Pioneer Human Services.

OTHER: Danielle Armbruster, DOC.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (Ways & Means): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: Forty-eight percent of people that leave our justice system, leave housing insecure and as mentioned, we do not usually use the full six months. The average is actually under three months. However, today's better housing market is making it more difficult to find housing depending on where they are from, so this allows some flexibility to help those that actually need it so we do not basically leave them homeless and then have a higher rate of recidivism.