F63FF1DDC99E86788725822500717794 Hearing Summary

The committee was called to order. A quorum was present. Ms. Ellen Graham, Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), presented the sunset review for the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program. Committee members received a draft bill to continue the program (Attachment A), and a sunset review document for the program, published by DORA (the report may be accessed at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1eD7wvZltwxbXZTdm9PMXdpYmM/view ).  Ms. Graham first provided an overview of the sunset review process.  Ms. Graham responded to questions regarding where DORA's recommendations may be found in the draft bill.  Ms. Graham provided an overview of the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program, and discussed DORA's recommendations for continuing the program.  Ms. Graham responded to questions regarding the community partners that provide services under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program, and the potential for metropolitan area-based community partners to expand outside of this area.  Ms. Graham responded to further questions regarding how funding would be allocated for programming under the draft bill.  Discussion ensued on this point.

Discussion returned to the community partners operating under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program, and the potential for expanding the pool of partners.  The following persons testified regarding the sunset review of the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program:

Ms. Christie Donner, representing the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition, Mr. Hassan Latif, representing the Second Chance Center, Ms. Melissa Roberts, representing the Department of Corrections, and Mr. Richard Morales, representing the Latino Coalition, testified in support of continuing the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program.  Ms. Donner discussed the merits of the program, and provided an overview of the program from its inception.  Ms. Roberts provided input on the program's merits, and responded to questions regarding the programming that was implemented by the legislation that created the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program.

Discussion returned to programming available to more rural areas under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program, and the original program costs when it was created by House Bill 14-1355.  Mr. Latif discussed the programming undertaken by his organization and other community partners under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program.

Mr. Latif continued to discuss the work of the Second Chance Center.  Mr. Latif responded to questions regarding the funding model for the Second Chance Center.  Mr. Morales provided input on the collaborative efforts of community partners, and the number of community partners that could be activated if funding were available.

Ms. Donner discussed programming available to women under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program.  Discussion ensued regarding recidivism data associated with those engaged in programming under the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program.  Mr. Morales responded to questions regarding the extent of activity of the Latino Coalition, and the ability to extend the program's reach geographically.

The committee discussed the potential for expanding the Offender Re-Entry Grant Program, and the best course of action with respect to the draft bill.

The committee discussed sponsorship for the draft bill.