HR 8161 RFS
(G) a member of a civic or volunteer group 
related to the provision of reentry services; 
(H) a health care professional; or 
(I) an employee of a State, local, or tribal 
government agency with expertise in the provi-
sion of reentry services. 
(5) The term ‘‘success rate’’ means the rate of 
recidivism (as measured by a subsequent conviction 
or return to prison), job placement, permanent hous-
ing placement, or completion of certification, trade, 
or other education program. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2021 through 2025 to carry out this section. 
(2) EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION.—The Attorney 
General shall ensure that grants awarded under this 
section are equitably distributed among the geo-
graphical regions and between urban and rural pop-
ulations, including Indian Tribes, consistent with the 
objective of reducing recidivism. 
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR REENTRY SERVICES ASSISTANCE HOT-
LINES. 
(a) GRANTS AUTHORIZED.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Dec 11, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8161.RFS
H8161
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
HR 8161 RFS
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Attorney General is au-
thorized to make grants to States and units of local 
government to operate reentry services assistance 
hotlines that are toll-free and operate 24 hours a 
day, 7 days a week. 
(2) GRANT
PERIOD.—A grant made under 
paragraph (1) shall be for a period of not more than 
5 years. 
(b) HOTLINE REQUIREMENTS.—A grant recipient 
shall ensure, with respect to a hotline funded by a grant 
under subsection (a), that— 
(1) the hotline directs individuals to local re-
entry services (as such term is defined in section 
2(e)); 
(2) any personally identifiable information that 
an individual provides to an agency of the State 
through the hotline is not directly or indirectly dis-
closed, without the consent of the individual, to any 
other agency or entity, or person; 
(3) the staff members who operate the hotline 
are trained to be knowledgeable about— 
(A) applicable Federal, State, and local re-
entry services; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Dec 11, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8161.RFS
H8161
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS
HR 8161 RFS
(B) the unique barriers to successful re-
entry into the community after a person has 
been convicted or incarcerated; 
(4) the hotline is accessible to— 
(A) individuals with limited English pro-
ficiency, where appropriate; and 
(B) individuals with disabilities; 
(5) the hotline has the capability to engage with 
individuals using text messages. 
(c) BEST PRACTICES.—The Attorney General shall 
issue guidance to grant recipients on best practices for im-
plementing the requirements of subsection (b). 
(d) PREFERENCE.—The Attorney General shall give 
preference to applicants that demonstrate that they seek 
to employ individuals to operate the hotline who have been 
convicted of an offense, or have served a term of imprison-
ment and have completed any court-ordered supervision. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated $1,500,000 for each of fis-
cal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out this section. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 
2020. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
00:10 Dec 11, 2020
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8161.RFS
H8161
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS