I 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 981 

To authorize implementation grants to community-based nonprofits to operate 

one-stop reentry centers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 10, 2023 

Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE (for herself and Ms. BROWN) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To authorize implementation grants to community-based 

nonprofits to operate one-stop reentry centers. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘One Stop Shop Com5 munity Reentry Program Act of 2023’’. 

6 SEC. 2. COMMUNITY REENTRY CENTER GRANT PROGRAM. 

7 (a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Attorney General 

8 is authorized to carry out a grant program to make grants 

9 to eligible entities for the purpose of creating community 

10 reentry centers. 


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1 (b) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Each applica2 tion for a grant under this section shall— 

3 (1) demonstrate a plan to work with community 

4 stakeholders who interact with formerly incarcerated 

5 people or individuals with a conviction record and 

6 their families to— 

7 (A) identify specific strategies and ap8 proaches to providing reentry services; 

9 (B) develop a needs assessment tool to sur10 vey or conduct focus groups with community 

11 members in order to identify— 

12 (i) the needs of individuals after con13 viction or incarceration, and the barriers 

14 such individuals face; and 

15 (ii) the needs of the families and com16 munities to which such individuals belong; 

17 and 

18 (C) use the information gathered pursuant 

19 to subparagraph (B) to determine the reentry 

20 services to be provided by the community re21 entry center; 

22 (2) identify the institutions from which individ23 uals who are released from incarceration are likely 

24 to reenter the community served by the community 

25 reentry center, and develop a plan, if feasible, to 


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1 provide transportation for such released individuals 

2 to the community reentry center, to the individual’s 

3 residence, or to a location where the individual is or4 dered by a court to report; 

5 (3) demonstrate a plan to provide accessible no6 tice of the location of the reentry intake and coordi7 nation center and the services that it will provide 

8 (either directly or on a referral basis), including, 

9 where feasible, within and outside of institutions 

10 identified under paragraph (1); 

11 (4) demonstrate a plan to provide intake and 

12 reentry needs assessment that is trauma-informed 

13 and gender-responsive after an individual is released 

14 from an institution, or, in the case of an individual 

15 who is convicted of an offense and not sentenced to 

16 a term of imprisonment, after such conviction, and 

17 where feasible, before release, to ensure that the in18 dividuals served by the center are referred to appro19 priate reentry services based on the individual’s 

20 needs immediately upon release from an institution 

21 or after conviction, and continuously thereafter as 

22 needed; 

23 (5) demonstrate a plan to provide the reentry 

24 services identified in paragraph (1)(C); 


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1 (6) demonstrate a plan to continue to provide 

2 services (including through referral) for individuals 

3 served by the center who move to a different geo4 graphic area to ensure appropriate case manage5 ment, case planning, and access to continuous or 

6 new services, where necessary, and based on con7 sistent reevaluation of needs; 

8 (7) identify specific methods that the commu9 nity reentry center will employ to achieve perform10 ance objectives among the individuals served by the 

11 center, including— 

12 (A) increased access to and participation 

13 in reentry services; 

14 (B) reduction in recidivism rates; 

15 (C) increased numbers of individuals ob16 taining and retaining employment; 

17 (D) increased enrollment in and degrees 

18 earned from educational programs, including 

19 high school or the equivalent thereof, and insti20 tutions of higher education, and receipt of pro21 fessional or occupational licenses; 

22 (E) increased enrollment in vocational re23 habilitation, technical schools, or vocational 

24 training; 


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1 (F) increased numbers of individuals ob2 taining and maintaining permanent and stable 

3 housing; and 

4 (G) increased self-reports of successful 

5 community living, including stability of living 

6 situation and positive family relationships; and 

7 (8) to the extent practicable, identify State, 

8 local, and private funds available to supplement the 

9 funds received under this section. 

10 (c) PREFERENCE.—The Attorney General shall give 

11 preference to applicants that demonstrate that they seek 

12 to employ individuals who have been convicted of an of13 fense, or served a term of imprisonment and have com14 pleted any court-ordered supervision, or that, to the extent 

15 allowable by law, employ such formerly incarcerated indi16 viduals in positions of responsibility. 

17 (d) EVALUATION AND REPORT.— 

18 (1) EVALUATION.—The Attorney General shall 

19 enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organiza20 tion with expertise in analyzing data related to re21 entry services and recidivism to monitor and evalu22 ate each recipient of funds under this section. 

23 (2) REPORT.—Not later than one year after the 

24 date on which grants are initially made under this 

25 section, and annually thereafter, the Attorney GenVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:52 Mar 07, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H981.IH H981

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1 eral shall submit to Congress a report on the pro2 gram, which shall include— 

3 (A) the number of grants made, the num4 ber of eligible entities receiving such grants, 

5 and the amount of funding distributed to each 

6 eligible entity pursuant to this section; 

7 (B) the location of each eligible entity re8 ceiving such a grant, and the population served 

9 by the community reentry center; 

10 (C) the number of persons who have par11 ticipated in reentry services offered by a com12 munity reentry center, disaggregated by type of 

13 services, and success rates of participants in 

14 each service to the extent possible; 

15 (D) the number of persons who have par16 ticipated in reentry services for which they re17 ceived a referral from a community reentry cen18 ter, disaggregated by type of services, and suc19 cess rates of participants in each service; 

20 (E) recidivism rates within the population 

21 served by each community reentry center, both 

22 before and after receiving a grant under this 

23 section; 

24 (F) the numbers of individuals obtaining 

25 and retaining employment within the population 


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1 served by each community reentry center, both 

2 before and after receiving a grant under this 

3 section; 

4 (G) the number of individuals obtaining 

5 and maintaining housing within the population 

6 served by each community reentry center, both 

7 before and after receiving a grant under this 

8 section; 

9 (H) the number of individuals enrolled in 

10 an educational program, including high school, 

11 or the equivalent thereof, and institutions of 

12 higher education, both before and after receiv13 ing a grant under this section; 

14 (I) the number of individuals enrolled in 

15 vocational rehabilitation, technical schools, or 

16 vocational training, both before and after re17 ceiving a grant under this section; 

18 (J) for each eligible entity receiving a 

19 grant under this section, the number of individ20 uals employed who have been convicted of an 

21 offense, or served a term of imprisonment and 

22 have completed any court-ordered supervision, 

23 to include the number of formerly incarcerated 

24 individuals in positions of responsibility; and 


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1 (K) other relevant information, which may 

2 include recommendations, if any, to improve the 

3 effectiveness and efficiency of the grant pro4 gram under this section, and to address bar5 riers faced by individuals receiving reentry serv6 ices from community reentry centers. 

7 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

8 (1) COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER.—The term 

9 ‘‘community stakeholder’’— 

10 (A) means an individual who serves the 

11 community; and 

12 (B) includes— 

13 (i) a school official; 

14 (ii) a faith leader; 

15 (iii) a social service provider; 

16 (iv) a leader of a neighborhood asso17 ciation; 

18 (v) a public safety representative; 

19 (vi) an employee of an organization 

20 that provides reentry services; 

21 (vii) a member of a civic or volunteer 

22 group related to the provision of reentry 

23 services; 

24 (viii) a health care professional; and 


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1 (ix) an employee of a State, local, or 

2 tribal government agency with expertise in 

3 the provision of reentry services. 

4 (2) COMMUNITY REENTRY CENTER.—The term 

5 ‘‘community reentry center’’ means a center that— 

6 (A) offers intake, reentry needs assess7 ments, case management, and case planning for 

8 reentry services for individuals after conviction 

9 or incarceration; 

10 (B) provides the reentry services identified 

11 under subsection (b)(1)(C) at a single location; 

12 and 

13 (C) provides referrals to appropriate serv14 ice providers based on the assessment of needs 

15 of the individuals. 

16 (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti17 ty’’ means a community-based nonprofit organiza18 tion that— 

19 (A) has expertise in the provision of re20 entry services; and 

21 (B) is located in a geographic area that 

22 has disproportionately high numbers of resi23 dents, when compared to the local community, 

24 who— 

25 (i) have been arrested; 


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1 (ii) have been convicted of a criminal 

2 offense; and 

3 (iii) return to such geographic area 

4 after incarceration. 

5 (4) REENTRY SERVICES.—The term ‘‘reentry 

6 services’’— 

7 (A) means comprehensive and holistic serv8 ices that improve outcomes for individuals after 

9 conviction or incarceration; and 

10 (B) includes— 

11 (i) seeking and maintaining employ12 ment, including— 

13 (I) assistance with drafting re14 sumes, establishing emails accounts, 

15 locating job solicitations, submitting 

16 of job applications, and preparing for 

17 interviews; and 

18 (II) securing any licenses, certifi19 cations, government-issued identifica20 tions, or other documentation nec21 essary to obtain employment; 

22 (ii) placement in job placement pro23 grams that partner with private employers; 

24 (iii) obtaining free and low-cost job 

25 skills classes, including computer skills, 


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1 technical skills, vocational skills, and any 

2 other job-related or other necessary skills; 

3 (iv) supporting preparation for post4 secondary education, including academic 

5 counseling, peer mentoring, and commu6 nity support; 

7 (v) locating and maintaining housing, 

8 which may include housing counseling, as9 sisting with finding and securing afford10 able housing including in areas of oppor11 tunity, assisting with applications for sub12 sidized housing and housing-related bene13 fits, locating and identifying temporary 

14 shelter when housing cannot be found im15 mediately, and applying for home energy 

16 and utility assistance programs; 

17 (vi) obtaining identification cards, 

18 driver’s licenses, replacement Social Secu19 rity cards, birth certificates, and citizen20 ship or immigration documentation; 

21 (vii) registering to vote, and applying 

22 for voting rights to be restored, where per23 mitted by law; 


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1 (viii) applying for or accessing high 

2 school equivalency classes, vocational reha3 bilitation, or technical courses; 

4 (ix) applying for loans for and admis5 sion to institutions of higher education; 

6 (x) financial counseling planning, em7 powerment, or coaching; 

8 (xi) legal assistance or referrals for 

9 record sealing or expungement, forfeiture 

10 of property or assets, family law and cus11 tody matters, legal aid services (including 

12 other civil legal aid services), and relevant 

13 civil matters including housing and other 

14 issues; 

15 (xii) retrieving property or funds re16 tained by the arresting agency or facility of 

17 incarceration, or retrieving property or 

18 funds obtained while incarcerated; 

19 (xiii) transportation, including 

20 through provision of transit fare; 

21 (xiv) individual and familial coun22 seling; 

23 (xv) problem-solving, in coordination 

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1 pervision requirements, including restric2 tions on living with certain family mem3 bers, contact with certain friends, bond re4 quirements, location and residency restric5 tions, electronic monitoring compliance, 

6 court-ordered substance use disorder treat7 ment, and other court-ordered require8 ments; 

9 (xvi) communication needs, including 

10 providing a mobile phone, mobile phone 

11 service or access, or internet access; 

12 (xvii) applying for State or Federal 

13 government benefits, where eligible, and 

14 assisting in locating free or reduced cost 

15 food and sustenance benefits; 

16 (xviii) life skills assistance; 

17 (xix) mentorship; 

18 (xx) medical and mental health serv19 ices, and cognitive-behavioral program20 ming; 

21 (xxi) substance use disorder treat22 ment; 

23 (xxii) reactivation, application for, and 

24 maintenance of professional or other li25 censes; 


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1 (xxiii) providing case management 

2 services, in connection with court-ordered 

3 terms of release, or other local publicly 

4 supported social work case management; 

5 (xxiv) safety planning with victims of 

6 domestic violence, dating violence, sexual 

7 assault, stalking, and human trafficking; 

8 and 

9 (xxv) applying for State Vocational 

10 Rehabilitation services for individuals with 

11 disabilities that may qualify or conduct an 

12 evaluation to determine whether they may 

13 be eligible or potentially eligible for voca14 tional rehabilitation services. 

15 (5) SUCCESS RATE.—The term ‘‘success rate’’ 

16 means the rate of recidivism (as measured by a sub17 sequent conviction or return to prison), job place18 ment, permanent housing placement, or completion 

19 of certification, trade, or other education program. 

20 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

21 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 

22 appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 

23 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section. 

24 (2) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—The Attorney 

25 General shall ensure that grants awarded under this 


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1 section are equitably distributed among the geo2 graphical regions and between urban and rural pop3 ulations, including Indian Tribes, consistent with the 

4 objective of reducing recidivism. 

5 SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR REENTRY SERVICES ASSISTANCE HOT6 LINES. 

7 (a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General is au9 thorized to make grants to States, Indian Tribes, 

10 and units of local government to operate reentry 

11 services assistance hotlines that are toll-free and op12 erate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

13 (2) GRANT PERIOD.—A grant made under 

14 paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not more than 

15 5 years. 

16 (b) HOTLINE REQUIREMENTS.—A grant recipient 

17 shall ensure, with respect to a hotline funded by a grant 

18 under subsection (a), that— 

19 (1) the hotline directs individuals to local re20 entry services (as such term is defined in section 

21 2(e)); 

22 (2) any personally identifiable information that 

23 an individual provides to an agency of the State or 

24 Indian Tribe through the hotline is not directly or 


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1 indirectly disclosed, without the consent of the indi2 vidual, to any other agency or entity, or person; 

3 (3) the staff members who operate the hotline 

4 are trained to be knowledgeable about— 

5 (A) applicable Federal, State, Tribal, and 

6 local reentry services; and 

7 (B) the unique barriers to successful re8 entry into the community after a person has 

9 been convicted or incarcerated; 

10 (4) the hotline is accessible to— 

11 (A) individuals with limited English pro12 ficiency, consistent with applicable law; and 

13 (B) individuals with disabilities; 

14 (5) the hotline has the capability to engage with 

15 individuals using text messages. 

16 (c) BEST PRACTICES.—The Attorney General shall 

17 issue guidance to grant recipients on best practices for im18 plementing the requirements of subsection (b). 

19 (d) PREFERENCE.—The Attorney General shall give 

20 preference to applicants that demonstrate that they seek 

21 to employ individuals to operate the hotline who have been 

22 convicted of an offense, or have served a term of imprison23 ment and have completed any court-ordered supervision. 

24 (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 


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1 (1) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

2 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 

3 Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

4 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

5 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 

6 (A) a State; 

7 (B) the District of Columbia; 

8 (C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 

9 and 

10 (D) any other territory or possession of the 

11 United States. 

12 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

13 authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each of fis14 cal years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section. 

Æ 


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