Section 2-501 - Task Force on Prisoner Reentry [Section subject to abrogation].
§ 2-501. Task Force on Prisoner Reentry [Section subject to abrogation].
(a) Established.- There is a Task Force on Prisoner Reentry.
(b) Membership.- The Task Force consists of the following members:
(1) two members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
(2) two members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;
(3) two members of the public with relevant expertise in the provision of reentry services to adult offenders, appointed by the Governor;
(4) two members of the public with relevant expertise in the provision of reentry services to juvenile offenders, appointed by the Governor;
(5) two individuals who were formerly committed to a State correctional facility, appointed by the Governor;
(6) two members of the public who represent employer organizations, appointed by the Governor;
(7) two members of the public who represent organized labor, appointed by the Governor;
(8) up to four members, appointed by the Governor, who represent local reentry task forces that have reviewed or are in the process of reviewing local policies and practices relating to the employment of ex-offenders, including one from Prince George's County and one from Baltimore City; and
(9) the following members, who shall serve ex officio:
(i) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the Secretary's designee;
(ii) the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary's designee;
(iii) the State Superintendent of Education, or the Superintendent's designee;
(iv) the Secretary of Human Resources, or the Secretary's designee;
(v) the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary's designee;
(vi) the Secretary of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, or the Secretary's designee;
(vii) the Commissioner of Correction, or the Commissioner's designee;
(viii) the Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Administration, or the Administrator's designee; and
(ix) one member from the Governor's Workforce Investment Board, appointed by the Governor.
(c) Chair and staff.- The Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the Secretary's designee shall:
(1) chair the Task Force; and
(2) provide staff support for the Task Force from the Department.
(d) Compensation and reimbursement.- A member of the Task Force may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force but is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
(e) Duties.- The Task Force shall:
(1) examine ways to pool resources and funding streams to promote lower recidivism rates for returning offenders and minimize the harmful effects of offenders' time in prison, jail, or a juvenile facility on families and communities of offenders by collecting data and best practices in offender reentry from demonstration grantees and other agencies and organizations;
(2) analyze the statutory, regulatory, rules-based, and practice-based hurdles to reintegration of adult and juvenile offenders into the community;
(3) investigate guidelines and criteria to track outcomes of inmate reentry program participation, including program approvals, day-to-day program participation, and program graduation and other types of program completion and noncompletion;
(4) research longitudinal data tracking of the pre- and post-release impact of reentry programs;
(5) investigate the number of idle inmates in each State correctional facility; and
(6) develop a comprehensive strategic reentry plan as specified under the federal Second Chance Act of 2007.
(f) Reports.-
(1) The Task Force shall submit an interim report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2010.
(2) The Task Force shall submit a final report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2011.
[2009, chs. 625, 626; 2010, ch. 72.]