Transportation for Reentry Act

To amend title 49, United States Code, to provide for free public transportation for individuals who are recently released from incarceration. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transportation for Reentry Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Access to free public transportation services increases the access that an individual recently released from prison has to a reliable mode of transportation. (2) Access to a reliable mode of transportation— (A) promotes the successful reintegration of a returning individual into the community; (B) reduces the likelihood of recidivism; (C) increases the ability of a returning individual to access community services; and (D) helps a returning individual to follow up on referrals from their release plans and to meet initial parole requirements (if applicable). 3. Public transportation reentry service (a) Public transportation reentry service Chapter 53 5341. Public transportation reentry service (a) In general (1) Reentry service To be eligible for financial assistance under section 5307 or 5311, a covered recipient shall carry out a reentry service program to provide free public transportation to returning individuals. (2) Duration A covered recipient shall provide the reentry service described in paragraph (1) to a returning individual for a 1-year period beginning on the release date of the returning individual. (b) Requirements In carrying out this section, a covered recipient shall— (1) create a system for returning individuals to enroll in the reentry service under this section; (2) instruct transportation staff on the operation of the reentry service; (3) collect data on the number of returning individuals who use the reentry service and the frequency of use; and (4) develop a system to ensure compliance with the 1-year period described in section (a)(2). (c) Reimbursement (1) Direct costs The Secretary may reimburse a covered recipient for the cost of providing to returning individuals the reentry service under this section. (2) Indirect costs The reimbursement that a covered recipient receives may include the costs incurred from the following: (A) Development of the reentry service. (B) Implementation of the reentry service. (C) Operational costs of the reentry service. (D) Engagement with technical assistance providers. (E) Training on the implementation of the reentry service. (F) Outreach to prisons and to the returning individual populations. (G) Other uses integral to the successful implementation of the reentry service. (d) Regulations Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue regulations necessary to carry out this section, including regulations that— (1) promote the coordination of providing technical assistance to a covered recipient; (2) promote the marketing of the reentry service to ensure that incarcerated and returning individual populations are aware of the reentry service; and (3) clarify the treatment of a returning individual who resides in different locations, including in different States, during the 1-year period described in subsection (a)(2). (e) Reporting (1) Covered recipient For each year in which a covered recipient receives funds under this section, such recipient shall submit to the National Transit Database an annual report that details the following: (A) The number of returning individuals who used the reentry service. (B) The number of trips taken. (C) An estimate of revenue forgone. (D) Any other information that the Secretary determines appropriate. (2) Federal Transit Administration For each such year, the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration shall summarize the data reported under paragraph (1) and submit to Congress a report on such data. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Returning individual The term returning individual (2) Covered recipient The term covered recipient . (b) Clerical amendment The analysis for chapter 53 5341. Public transportation reentry service. . (c) Authorizations Section 5338(a) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (C) by striking $13,990,000,000 $14,030,000,000 (B) in subparagraph (D) by striking $14,279,000,000 $14,319,000,000 (C) in subparagraph (E) by striking $14,642,000,000 $14,682,000,000 (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in subparagraph (C) by striking $6,712,987,840 for fiscal year 2024, $6,851,662,142 for fiscal year 2025, and $7,025,844,743 for fiscal year 2026 $6,742,987,840 for fiscal year 2024, $6,881,662,142 for fiscal year 2025, and $7,055,844,743 for fiscal year 2026 (B) in subparagraph (F) by striking $916,907,591 for fiscal year 2024, $935,848,712 for fiscal year 2025, and $959,639,810 for fiscal year 2026 $926,907,591 for fiscal year 2024, $945,848,712 for fiscal year 2025, and $969,639,810 for fiscal year 2026 (d) Eligibility as capital project Section 5302(4) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subparagraph (M) by striking or (2) in subparagraph (N) by striking the period and inserting ; or (3) by adding at the end the following: (O) operating, planning, and outreach costs described in section 5341. . (e) Report Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on implementation of section 5341 of title 49, United States Code, (as added by this section) that includes— (1) details of the implementation and outcome of the program under such section; and (2) the impact that providing returning individuals with access to the reentry service under such section has had on recidivism rates of participating returning individuals and on the reentry of such individuals into the community. (f) Conforming amendments (1) Urbanized area formula grant Section 5307(c)(1) of title 49, United States Code, is amended— (A) in subparagraph (K), by striking and (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (M) will comply with section 5341; and . (2) Formula grants for rural areas Section 5311 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (k) Grant recipient requirement A recipient may receive a grant in a fiscal year only if the recipient certifies to the Secretary that such recipient will comply with section 5341. .

Summary: Transportation for Reentry ActThis bill requires certain Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant recipients to provide free public transportation to returning individuals (i.e., individuals who have been incarcerated for at least one year in federal or state prison). Specifically, the bill requires recipients of FTA financial assistance under the Urbanized Area Formula Grants Program and the Formula Grants for Rural Areas Program to carry out a reentry service program. A grantee must provide reentry service for a one-year period beginning on the returning individual's release date. The bill also establishes certain program requirements for grantees (e.g., to create an enrollment system for returning individuals).The Department of Transportation (DOT) may reimburse a grantee for the cost of providing the reentry service, including for indirect costs (e.g., the costs to develop and implement the program and operational costs).DOT must issue such regulations as necessary to carry out these requirements. This includes regulations that (1) promote the coordination of providing technical assistance to grantees, (2) promote the marketing of the reentry service, and (3) clarify the treatment of a returning individual who resides in different locations.The bill also directs the Government Accountability Office to submit a report to Congress on the implementation of the reentry service program.