WEST virginia legislature

2020 regular session

Introduced

Senate Bill 151

By Senators Sypolt and Clements

[Introduced January 9, 2020; referred
 to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL to amend and reenact §15A-4-21 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to requiring the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist inmates, prior to release, obtain a certified copy of their birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a driver’s license or a state-issued identification card; and requiring the commissioner to provide those inmates instruction in basic life skills, including, but not limited to, managing personal finances, writing a check, balancing a checkbook, writing a resume, and being interviewed for employment.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 4. CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT.

§15A-4-21. Director of employment; director of housing; released inmates; duties.

(a) The commissioner may employ or contract for a Director of Employment and a Director of Housing for released inmates. If the commissioner does not employ or contract for a Director of Employment and a Director of Housing for released inmates, then the commissioner, or a qualified employee or employees of the division the commissioner designates, shall fulfill the requirements of this section.

(b) The Director of Employment shall:

(1) Work with federal, state, county, and local government and private entities to negotiate agreements which facilitate employment opportunities for released inmates; The Director of Housing shall work with federal, state, county, and local government and private entities to negotiate agreements which facilitate housing opportunities for released inmates. The Director of Employment shall

(2) Investigate job opportunities and give every possible assistance in helping released inmates find employment; The Director of Housing shall work in conjunction with the Bureau of Community Corrections and the Parole Board to reduce release delays due to lack of a home plan, develop community housing resources, and provide short-term loans to released inmates for costs related to reentry into the community

(3) During the last six months of imprisonment of an inmate, assist the inmate obtain, to the extent that the inmate does not already possess, a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a driver’s license or a state issued identification card; and

(4) Provide instruction in basic life skills including, but not limited to, managing personal finances, writing a check, balancing a check book, writing a resume, and being interviewed for employment.

(c) The Director of Housing shall work:

(1) With federal, state, county, and local government and private entities to negotiate agreements which facilitate housing opportunities for released inmates; and

(2) In conjunction with the Bureau of Community Corrections and the Parole Board, to reduce release delays due to lack of a home plan, develop community housing resources, and provide short-term loans to released inmates for costs related to reentry into the community.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation to assist inmates, prior to release, obtain a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Social Security card, and a driver’s license or a state issued identification card. It also requires the division to provide those inmates instruction in basic life skills including, but not limited to, managing personal finances, writing a check, balancing a check book, writing a resume and being interviewed for employment.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.