Second Chance Reauthorization Act

Bill: 114-s-1513
Sponsor: Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH]
Introduced: 2015-06-04 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Adult education and literacy
Aging
Congressional oversight
Correctional facilities and imprisonment
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Detention of persons
Drug therapy
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Employment and training programs
Executive agency funding and structure
Family services
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government studies and investigations
Health care coverage and access
Homelessness and emergency shelter
Indian social and development programs
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement administration and funding
Low- and moderate-income housing
Mental health
Performance measurement
Poverty and welfare assistance
Research administration and funding
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
State and local courts
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Veterans' loans, housing, homeless programs
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions and compensation
Vocational and technical education

Summary:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: 

Second Chance Reauthorization Act

 
Amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to revise and expand requirements for the Department of Justice (DOJ) grant program for adult and juvenile offender state and local reentry demonstration projects, including for planning and implementation and for promotion of employment opportunities, and to extend the program through FY2020. Sets forth criteria and priority considerations for DOJ to use in awarding grants. 
 
Amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 to extend through FY2020 the authorization of appropriations for grants for: (1) family-based substance abuse treatment, (2) the careers training demonstration program, and (3) the offender reentry substance abuse and criminal justice collaboration program. Renames the program of mentoring grants to nonprofit organizations for offender reentry as the program of community-based mentoring and transitional service grants to nonprofit organizations. Provides for enhanced services under such program to assist in the reintegration of offenders into the community. Extends the authorization of appropriations for such program through FY2020.
 
Requires the DOJ Inspector General to conduct annual audits, beginning in FY2016, of grant recipients under the Second Chance Act of 2007 (covered grantees) to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse of grant funds. Prohibits nonprofit organizations that hold money in offshore accounts from receiving grant funds. Imposes restrictions on: (1) DOJ conferences using more than $20,000 in DOJ funds; and (2) lobbying DOJ and other officials regarding the award of grant funding. 
 
Amends the Second Chance Act of 2007 to: (1) modify and extend through FY2020 grant programs for reentry of federal prisoners into the community, including the program for placing aging offenders in home detention and for offender reentry research; (2) repeal programs under such Act relating to responsible reintegration of offenders, the study of the effectiveness of Depot Naltrexone for heroin addiction, and the satellite tracking and reentry training program; and (3) establish a program for partnering faith-based or community-based nonprofit organizations with prisons to conduct recidivism reduction activities. 
 
Directs DOJ, in consultation with specified federal officials and in collaboration with interested persons and entities, to coordinate on federal programs, policies, and activities relating to the reentry of individuals returning from incarceration to the community, with an emphasis on evidence-based practices and protection against duplication of services.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2015-06-04
text: Introduced in Senate