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RECALLED
May 10, 2001
S. 315
S. Printed 5/10/01--H.
Read the first time April 17, 2001.
TO AMEND TITLE 24, CHAPTER 13, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO PRISONERS CONFINED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, BY ADDING ARTICLE 20 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE OFFENDER EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL PROGRAM WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AS A STATEWIDE EMPLOYMENT REFERRAL PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REINTEGRATE INMATES INTO THE LABOR FORCE AFTER SERVING THEIR SENTENCES IN A DEPARTMENT FACILITY.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
SECTION 1. Title 41 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 41-38-10. To aid incarcerated individuals with reentry into their home communities of this State, the South Carolina Department of Corrections shall assist inmates in preparing for meaningful employment upon release from confinement. The South Carolina Department of Corrections shall coordinate efforts in this matter with the Employment Security Commission, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities.
Section 41-38-20. The Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Employment Security Commission, and the Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective responsibilities of each agency and each organization and shall adopt rules or policies necessary to implement the memorandum of understanding.
Section 41-38-30. The memorandum of understanding between the South Carolina Department of Corrections, the Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Employment Security Commission, the Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities shall establish the role of each agency in:
(1) ascertaining an inmate's opportunities for employment after his release from confinement and providing him with appropriate vocational and academic education and lifeskills assessments;
(2) developing appropriate skills enhancement programs for inmates;
(3) coordinating job referrals and related services with inmates before their release from incarceration;
(4) encouraging participation by inmates in the services offered;
(5) developing and maintaining a statewide network of employment referrals for inmates at the time of their release from incarceration and aiding inmates in the securing of employment;
(6) identifying and facilitating other transitional services within both the governmental and private sectors; and
(7) surveying employment trends within the State and making proposals to the Department of Corrections regarding potential vocational training activities.
Section 41-38-40. The South Carolina Department of Corrections shall administer the efforts of the affected state agencies through its program services administration. The South Carolina Department of Corrections shall:
(1) ensure that all inmates eligible for community reentry are afforded these services;
(2) develop policies and standards necessary for the provision of assessment, training, and referral services;
(3) obtain information from appropriate agencies and organizations affiliated with the services to determine actions that should be undertaken to create or modify these services;
(4) disseminate information about the services throughout the State;
(5) provide appropriate information and assistance to other agencies to carry out the purposes of this section;
(6) provide inmates of the Department of Corrections information concerning post release job training and employment referral services, and information concerning services that may be available from the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services, the Department of Mental Health, or the Office of Veterans Affairs;
(7) prepare an annual report that will be submitted to the directors of each department named in this chapter; and
(8) negotiate with the Alston Wilkes Society and other private sector entities concerning the delivery of assistance or services to inmates who are transitioning from incarceration to reentering their communities."
SECTION 2. The 1976 Code is amended by adding:
"Section 43-31-160. In addition to the duties of the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation as set forth in Sections 43-31-20 and 43-31-60, the department shall provide services authorized by this chapter to individuals who have committed criminal offenses and are incarcerated, or have been incarcerated in the Department of Corrections when these individuals suffer from physical or mental disabilities that may constitute a substantial handicap to employment. To assist these individuals, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation shall assist inmates after release from confinement."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor and is conditioned upon the appropriation of necessary funds to carry out the intent and purposes of this act.
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