MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Corrections; Appropriations A
By: Representative Currie
AN ACT TO CREATE A POST-RELEASE SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM, WHICH SHALL BE OPERATED BY A THIRD PARTY ENTITY THAT IS SELECTED THROUGH A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP); TO PROVIDE THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AND PROCUREMENT OF THE CONTRACT SHALL FALL UNDER THE PURVIEW OF THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RFP SHALL BE REVIEWED BY A CERTAIN COMMITTEE WHO SHALL EVALUATE THE RFP FOR CERTAIN CRITERIA; TO PROVIDE THE DUTIES OF THE COORDINATOR WHO SHALL IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE CERTAIN DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AS THEY RELATE TO THE PROGRAM; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) (a) This section creates a Post-Release Services Pilot Program. The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES) shall issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a third party entity, which shall be known as the coordinator under this section, to operate the program. The RFP shall be structured as a hybrid contract with a base cost plus a performance incentive rebate as set out under this section, for a term of five (5) years, with the goal of reducing recidivism through a variety of support services to individuals who leave prison. Recidivism reduction shall be determined by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) at the three-year, four-year and five-year period. The RFP shall be released on August 1, 2024, and the entity selected shall be announced on October 1, 2024, with the contract commencing on November 1, 2024. PEER shall evaluate and determine savings through recidivism reduction based upon the established baseline at the time of the selection of the coordinator.
The administration and procurement of the contract shall fall under the purview of MDES.
(b) The RFP shall require a plan to implement technology solutions for successful case management and once the RFP is awarded the coordinator shall work with MDES and the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) to provide data to the State Longitudinal Data System as authorized in Section 37-154-1.
(c) The RFP shall be reviewed by a committee consisting of seven (7) appointees from the following organizations:
(i) Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES);
(ii) Department of Finance and Administration (DFA);
(iii) Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC);
(iv) Accelerate Mississippi Workforce Development Program;
(v) One (1) individual appointed by both the House Corrections Chairman;
(vi) One (1) individual appointed by the Senate Corrections Chairman ; and
(vii) One (1) appointee from the Governor.
(d) The committee established under paragraph (c) of this subsection shall evaluate the following criteria that shall include the following scoring metrics which have been proven to materially reduce recidivism:
(i) Established partnerships with employers who are committed to hiring formerly incarcerated individuals (50%);
(ii) A plan for transportation and wrap-around services (20%);
(iii) Experience of team members working with and within the MDOC (20%); and
(iv) Demonstration of a return on investment to the taxpayers of the state (10%).
(2) (a) The coordinator shall put forth a detailed plan for inter-agency collaboration of existing resources and programs, and it shall possess experience in applying for and administering Department of Justice and Department of Labor grants and other federal supplemental funds.
(b) The coordinator shall also provide services to all program participants, based upon their criminogenic risk needs assessment, which are to include employment connections, housing assistance, drug and alcohol counseling, family reunification, anger management counseling, personal finance and budgeting, and other coordinated support services. These services shall be provided in conjunction with MDOC parole and probation officers, if requested by coordinator.
(3) Before entering the program, MDOC shall provide all program participants with a social security card, a provisional driver's license, as required under Section 63-1-309, or other identification card, and a birth certificate. The department shall also provide the coordinator a criminogenic risk needs assessment upon the enrollment of all new inmates into the program.
(4) The pilot program shall include 1,000 inmates chosen by MDOC by random selection; however, preference shall be given to inmates who are veterans and returning to a community in the State of Mississippi.
(5) The program shall be funded by an annual appropriation of up to $2.5 million which shall be dispersed through the MDES to the selected coordinator. DFA shall make funds available November 1, 2024, for the program and by October 1 for every following fiscal year.
(6) At the three, four, and five year mark, based upon the findings of PEER on the impact of reduced recidivism to the state, the coordinator shall receive a rebate equal to 33% of the actual cost savings to the state derived from incarceration avoidance.
(7) (a) The coordinator shall work with the Department of Public Safety to develop a mobile driver's license solution to ensure all inmates entering the program have access to a temporary 6-month driver's license as allowed by law.
(b) The coordinator shall establish and facilitate a community shareholder advisory group of no less than twelve (12) individuals, six (6) of whom are formerly incarcerated, and the group shall meet on a quarterly basis.
(c) The coordinator shall also provide an annual update to the House and Senate Corrections Committees at the request of the chairmen of such committees and to the Chair of the Senate Economic and Workforce Development Committee, and Chair of the House Workforce Development Committee by October 1 each year of the existence of the program.
(8) As used in this section:
(a) "Criminogenic risk needs assessment" means domains related to the antisocial attitudes, behavior, personality patterns, and/or beliefs; affiliations with criminal or antisocial groups or friends; substance use abuse and/or mental health disorders; strained poor marital family relationships; history of unstable employment or low performance or satisfaction with work or school; financial and/or housing instability and low level of education or job skills.
(b) "Recidivism" means a return to prison, as a result of either a new conviction or a violation of post-release supervision within three (3) years of an inmate's prison release.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.