An Act to Enact the Reentry Success and Earned Time Act
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1978
Committee Amendment CA_A_H777 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " A " to H,P. 1271, L.D. 1978, "An Act to Enact the
Reentry Success and Earned Time Act"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Programs Within the Department of
Corrections That Prepare Correctional Facility Residents for Employment and Self-
sufficiency Upon Release from Incarceration'
Amend the bill by striking out everythmg after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Evaluation. Resolved: That the University of Maine System shall evaluate
the effectiveness of rehabilitation, vocational and educational programs within the
Department of Corrections that prepare residents of correctional facilities for employment
and self-sufficiency upon their release from incarceration.
1, The evaluation must include consideration of the following:
A. The degree to which a resident of a correctional facility has equal access to, and
opportunity to engage m, the rehabilitation, vocational and educational programs based
on the resident's race, gender, age, classification, length of sentence, applicable good
time code, socioeconomic status, education and the resident's genuine attempts to
reintegrate into society;
B, The degree of successful completion of rehabilitation, vocational and educational
programs and an analysis of barriers to successful completion;
C. The degree to which an individual leaving a correctional facility can demonstrate
the skill sets and knowledge required to be a successful job seeker based on race,
gender, age, classification and length of sentence; and
D, The degree to which the current rehabilitation, vocational and educational programs
offered at correctional facilities meet the needs of the workforce.
2, In conducting the evaluation, the University of Maine System shall consult with,
and document its consultation with, the followuig:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "^ " to H,P. 1271, L.D. 1978
V2f& A, The Commissioner of Corrections or the commissioner's designee;
B. The Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee;
C. The Commissioner of Health and Human Services or the commissioner's designee;
D. The Commissioner of Labor or the commissioner's designee;
E. The Commissioner of Education or the commissioner's designee;
F. Individuals formerly incarcerated at a Department of Corrections correctional
facility that houses adult female residents;
G. Individuals formerly incarcerated at a Department of Corrections correctional
facility that houses adult male residents;
H. Law enforcement officers;
I. An assistant attorney general or assistant district attorney who focuses primarily on
the prosecution of criminal offenses;
J, An attorney who focuses primarily on representing defendants in criminal cases;
K, A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of victims of
sexual assault;
L. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of victims of
domestic violence;
M. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of
incarcerated persons;
N. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates for the expansion of
reentry programs and reentry services for incarcerated persons;
0. A representative of a statewide civil rights organization whose primary mission is
focused on racial equity and justice;
P. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates for civil liberties,
Q. A representative of a statewide association that advocates for restorative justice;
R. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf oftransgender
individuals;
S, A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual individuals;
T. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of individuals
with disabilities;
U. Employers interested in hiring formerly incarcerated persons as employees;
V. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates for persons with
substance use disorder; and
W. A representative of a statewide organization that advocates for persons with mental
or behavioral disabilities.
Sec. 2. Interim report. Resolved: That, by March 1, 2025, the University of
Maine System shall submit an interim report to the joint standing committee of the
Page2-131LR0038(02)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A."toH.P. 1271, L.D. 1978
Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice matters that includes preliminary
findings from its evaluation, along with any recommendations for legislation related to
those findings. The committee may report out legislation based on the interim report to the
132nd Legislature in 2025.
Sec. 3. Final report. Resolved: That,by January 1,2026, the University of Maine
System shall submit a final report to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having
jurisdiction over criminal justice matters outlining the fmdings of its evaluation under
section 1, along with any recommendations for policies and practices that would improve
the effectiveness of programs within the Department of Corrections that prepare residents
of correctional facilities for employment and self-sufficiency upon their release from
incarceration, and other recommendations related to the report. The committee may report
out legislation based on the final report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd
Legislature.
Sec. 4. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM, BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
Educational and General Activities - VMS 0031
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for an evaluation of the effectiveness of programs
within the Department of Corrections that prepare residents of correctional facilities for
employment and self-sufficiency upon release from incarceration.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AHOther $0 $175,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $175,000
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft, with a resolve. The
amendment directs the University of Maine System to evaluate the effectiveness of the
rehabilitation, vocational and educational programs within the Department of CoiTections
that prepare residents of correctional facilities for employment and self-sufficiency upon
their release from incarceration,
In conducting the evaluation, the University of Maine System must include
consideration of; the degree to which access to and opportunity to engage in the programs
6 correlates with a variety of factors; the degree of successful completion of those programs
and an analysis of barriers to successful completion; the degree to which an individual
leaving a correctional facility can demonstrate the skill sets and knowledge required to be
a successful job seeker based on race, gender, age, classification and length of sentence;
and the degree to which the current educational and rehabilitative programs meet the needs
of the workforce. The University of Maine System must also, in conducting the evaluation,
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " fi." to H,P, 1271, L.D. 1978
consult with a number of agency heads, legal practitioners, representatives from various
organizations and individuals with certain relevant experience.
The University of Maine System must submit an interim report by March 1, 2025 to
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice
matters that includes preliminary findings from its evaluation and any recommendations
based on those findings. The committee may report out legislation based on the mterim
report in 2025. The University of Maine System must submit a fmal report by January 1,
2026 outlining the findings of its evaluation, along with any recommendations for policies
and practices that would improve the effectiveness of programs, and other
recommendations related to the final report. The committee may report out legislation
based on the final report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature.
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 02/12/24 ^pWc-.
LD 1978 LR 38(02)
An Act to Enact the Reentry Success and Earned Time Act
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '^' ( /-/- '7-^-7
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $175,000 $0 $0
^ppropriations/AIlocations
General Fund $0 $175,000 $0 $0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
This bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation of $175,000 in fiscal year 2024-25 to the University of
Maine System for the costs associated with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of programs
with the Department of Corrections that prepare residents of correctional facilities for employment and self-
sufficiency upon release from incarceration,
Additional costs to the Departments of Corrections, Labor, Education, Health and Human Services and the Office of
the Attorney General associated with consulting with the University of Maine System on the evaluation are expected
to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR0038(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1