BILL NUMBER: SB 356	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hancock

                        FEBRUARY 24, 2015

   An act to add and repeal Article 7 (commencing with Section 2696)
of Chapter 4 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, relating to
prisons.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 356, as introduced, Hancock. Opportunity Yard Pilot Project.
   Existing law establishes the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation to oversee the state prison system. Existing law
requires the department to establish parole reentry and assessment
programs and education and training programs for inmates.
   This bill would require the Secretary of the Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation to establish the Opportunity Yard
Pilot Project in 5 prisons, as specified. The program would implement
promising and evidence-based practices and programming in a
separate, special purpose prison housing unit setting designed to
strengthen the ability of eligible inmates to successfully reenter
society upon completion of their prison sentence. The bill would
require the department to set criteria for selecting inmates to
participate in the program, select staff for the program, and
establish program criteria. The bill would repeal these provisions as
of January 1, 2021.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Article 7 (commencing with Section 2696) is added to
Chapter 4 of Title 1 of Part 3 of the Penal Code, to read:

      Article 7.  Opportunity Yard Pilot Project


   2696.  (a) The Secretary of the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation shall establish the Opportunity Yard Pilot Project for
offenders under the jurisdiction of the department who have been
sentenced to a term of imprisonment under Section 1170 and are likely
to benefit from placement in a program designed to provide
comprehensive educational and rehabilitative programming based on
current best practices consistent with the purposes and requirements
of this section.
   (b) The mission of the pilot program is to implement promising and
evidence-based practices and programming in a separate, special
purpose prison housing unit setting designed to strengthen the
ability of eligible inmates to successfully reenter society upon
completion of their prison sentence. The pilot program shall
integrate evidence-based practices of supervision, treatment, and
rehabilitation in a positive, safe, and purposeful correctional
environment.
   (c) The program shall be initiated in at least five prisons, as
selected by the secretary, for at least three years. At least two of
the prisons chosen shall be Level III general population facilities.
At least two of the prisons shall be Level IV general population
facilities.
   (d) The department shall develop and implement criteria for
selecting inmates appropriate for housing in the opportunity yards
that shall be consistent with all of the following:
   (1) Inmate placement in the program shall be voluntary.
   (2) To the extent feasible based upon a prison site's population
and eligible inmates, the program shall be comprised of at least a
majority of offenders between 18 and 26 years of age, inclusive, with
a parole consideration hearing date not exceeding five years from
the date of their placement in the program.
   (3) Placement in the program shall be limited to inmates who
demonstrate a commitment to strive daily for self-improvement,
succeed in correctional programming, and achieve permanent life
change.
   (4) Participation in the program may be limited to inmates who
agree to be free from disciplinary action; who agree to enroll,
participate in, and complete a high school diploma, Associate of
Arts, or Bachelor of Arts college degree, or vocational trade school;
and who agree to complete job-training curriculum, maintain a job on
the opportunity yard campus, and to serve as a peer mentor.
   (e) The department shall develop and implement appropriate
selection criteria and training to ensure that staff assigned to an
Opportunity Yard are highly motivated and skilled in fulfilling the
mission of the program.
   (f) The department shall develop and implement programming and
curriculum for the program consistent with this section.
   (g) The department shall develop and implement a plan for
evaluating the program and identifying outcome measures for program
participants.
   (h) The department shall adopt emergency regulations to implement
this section initially, and shall subsequently adopt permanent
regulations that make appropriate changes in policies and procedures
to implement this section.
   (i) This article shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2021, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2021, deletes or extends
that date.