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Minutes for HB2401 - Committee on Corrections and Juvenile Justice
Short Title
Authorizing the secretary of corrections to enter agreements for public-private partnerships for projects for new or renovated buildings at correctional institutions for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs; establishing a nonprofit corporation to receive gifts, donations, grants and other moneys and engage in fundraising projects for funding such projects for education, skills-building and spiritual needs programs.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 10, 2021
Chairperson Jennings opened the hearing on HB2401.
Natalie Scott, Assistant Revisor, gave an overview of HB2401. (Attachment 1) The revisor responded to questions from the Committee.
Secretary Jeff Zmuda testified in support of HB2401 stating 98% of inmates are released back into the community and a key factor to successful reintegration is obtaining a livable wage. Due to recent restrictions removed by Congress, ten colleges in Kansas are preparing to help educate and train inmates who are now eligible for Federal Second Chance Pell Grants. However, adequate space in the correctional facilities remains an issue for education, training, spiritual study, and fellowship. HB2401 proposes a public-private partnership to establish a correctional facility career campus on prison grounds, as well as a spiritual needs center, to educate and prepare prisoners so they can earn a livable income and become taxpayers rather than being funded by tax dollars. (Attachment 2) Secretary Zmuda responded to questions from the Committee.
John Jenks, testified in support of HB2401 allowing the Secretary of Corrections to enter in a public-private partnership reentry program for inmates. The Career Campus concept is an innovative, collaborative effort among the business community, non-profits, educators, Departments of Commerce, and Corrections to teach hard and soft skills to the inmates returning to their communities. The Career Campus serves to be an example of a responsible and effective corrections and rehabilitation program established at Lansing Correctional Facility and eventually replicated across the state. (Attachment 3)
Jason P. Watkins testified in support of HB2401 because this approach helps with the transition of incarceration back to public life and it addresses workforce development concerns the business communities have, especially in south central Kansas where aviation business is down to 20,000 aviation workers from it's previous 30,000 aviation workers. It is rebounding to good business, but over half of the aviation workers will be eligible for retirement in the next six years causing an issue of economic competitiveness with other states if the talent and labor is not available. (Attachment 4)
Keith Lawing testified in support of HB2401 giving an overview of the Workforce Alliance’s history providing successful pre-release training programs to inmates at Winfield Correctional Facility in 2007 and 2008 prior to the economic recession that caused a stop to the program and the current successful Fair Chance program that provides job search assistance to individuals with a criminal background. (Attachment 5)
All conferees were available for questions from the Committee.
Written only testimony in support of HB2401 was submitted by:
- Monsignor Stuart W. Swetland, President, Donnelly College (Attachment 6)
- Rick Armstrong, President/CEO, The Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission (Attachment 7)
There was no opponent or neutral testimony.
Chair Jennings called for final questions from the Committee.
The hearing on HB2401 was closed.
The next Committee meeting will be Wednesday, March 11, 2021.
The meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
