HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 77        FILED ON: 1/6/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1854

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Josh S. Cutler

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act establishing the re-entry works fund.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 77        FILED ON: 1/6/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1854

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act establishing the re-entry works fund.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Chapter 29 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after section 2QQQQQ the following section:-

Section 2RRRRR. (a) There is hereby established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Re-Entry Works Fund that shall be administered by the department of career services, which may contract with the Commonwealth Corporation to administer the fund. There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations and other money authorized by the general court and specifically designated to be credited to the fund; (ii) funds from public and private sources such as gifts, grants and donations to further workforce development among formerly incarcerated individuals transitioning into the labor force; (iii) interest earned on money in the fund. Amounts credited to the fund shall not be subject to further appropriation and any money remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.

(b) The department shall expend monies from the fund established in subsection (a) of this section for a re-entry workforce development and supportive services program for formerly incarcerated individuals transitioning from a house of correction or the department of correction to a steady job or career. Program funds shall be used for: (i) job training for formerly incarcerated individuals within one year of their period of incarceration in order to facilitate job placement; (ii) wage subsidies to facilitate private sector employment and professional development; (iii) support services and programs for court-involved youths; and (iv) partnership programs for formerly incarcerated individuals. Partnership programs for formerly incarcerated individuals may include costs for support services including, but not limited to, transportation and childcare, to eliminate barriers to participation in the training program.

(c) No later than April 1 of each year, the department shall file a report on this program with the executive office for administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the joint committee on labor and workforce development. The report shall include the annual amount credited to the fund, the number of educational and eligible service providers receiving funding and the amounts granted, the selection process of providers who receive funding, the number of participants receiving services, the number of participants placed in employment, the employment placement of participants by occupation, the salary and benefits that participants receive after placement, the cost per participant, and job retention or promotion rates one year after training ends. 

(d) The department shall conduct an annual public education campaign to inform justice-involved individuals, houses of correction, and potential and actual employer partners about the availability of services under this program, the location and funding of services under this program, and any admission requirements for services under this program. The department shall prepare and disseminate model multilingual forms to be used by correctional facilities as posted notice under this section.