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Bill

A 608

Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Michaelle Solages and 2 co-sponsors

Bill Summary: Expands Prison Work Release Program Eligibility and Participation OverviewBill Number: A 608 Title: Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation

REFERRED TO CORRECTION
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Bill Summary · A 608

Bill Summary: Expands Prison Work Release Program Eligibility and Participation

Overview

Bill Number: A 608
Title: Expands prison work release program eligibility and participation
Status: REFERRED TO CORRECTION
Introduced: January 08, 2025

Purpose and Intent

The main purpose of this bill is to expand the eligibility criteria and participation in prison work release programs. Work release programs allow incarcerated individuals nearing the end of their sentences to hold jobs in the community while residing in a corrections facility or halfway house. The goal is to help facilitate a successful reentry into society by providing work experience, income, and connections to support networks.

Key Provisions

This bill would make the following key changes:

  1. Eligibility Expansion: Expand the eligibility criteria for work release programs to include individuals convicted of certain nonviolent offenses, in addition to the currently eligible minimum-security and medium-security inmates.

  2. Participation Requirements: Require inmates participating in work release programs to pay a portion of their wages towards room, board, and program fees, up to 40% of their gross earnings.

  3. Community Partnerships: Direct the Department of Corrections to establish new partnerships with local employers and workforce development organizations to facilitate job placements for work release participants.

  4. Reentry Support: Mandate that work release programs provide career counseling, financial management training, and connections to housing and social services to help participants successfully transition back into their communities.

Affected Parties

This bill would primarily impact:

  • Incarcerated individuals nearing the end of their sentences, by expanding their eligibility and access to work release programs
  • State and local corrections departments, which would be responsible for administering the expanded work release programs
  • Employers and workforce development organizations, who would be asked to partner with corrections on job placements
  • Local communities, which could see increased economic activity and reduced recidivism as a result of the work release programs

Timeline and Procedure

If passed, this bill would take effect 90 days after being signed into law. The Department of Corrections would be required to develop and implement the expanded work release program guidelines and community partnerships within 6 months of the effective date.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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