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Current Status Bill Number:View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.315 Ratification Number:100 Act Number:96 Type of Legislation:General Bill GB Introducing Body:Senate Introduced Date:20010214 Primary Sponsor:Thomas All Sponsors:Thomas Drafted Document Number:l:\council\bills\ggs\22830cm01.doc Date Bill Passed both Bodies:20010524 Date of Last Amendment:20010523 Governor's Action:S Date of Governor's Action:20010831 Subject:Offender Employment Referral Program created; Prisons and Prisoners, Inmates, Corrections Department, Labor History Body Date Action Description Com Leg Involved ______ ________ ______________________________________ _______ ____________ ------ 20010918 Act No. A96 ------ 20010831 Signed by Governor ------ 20010605 Ratified R100 House 20010524 Concurred in Senate amendment, enrolled for ratification Senate 20010523 House amendments amended, returned to House with amendment House 20010517 Read third time, returned to Senate with amendment ------ 20010517 Scrivener's error corrected House 20010516 Amended, read second time House 20010510 Recalled from Committee 25 HJ House 20010417 Introduced, read first time, 25 HJ referred to Committee Senate 20010412 Read third time, sent to House Senate 20010411 Read second time, notice of general amendments Senate 20010411 Committee amendment adopted Senate 20010410 Committee report: Favorable with 03 SCP amendment Senate 20010214 Introduced, read first time, 03 SCP referred to Committee Versions of This Bill Revised on April 10, 2001 - Word format Revised on April 11, 2001 - Word format Revised on May 10, 2001 - Word format Revised on May 16, 2001 - Word format Revised on May 17, 2001 - Word format Revised on May 23, 2001 - Word format
(A96, R100, S315)
AN ACT 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 PREPARATION PROGRAM WHICH REQUIRES THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO COORDINATE ITS EFFORTS WITH THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY COMMISSION, DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION, PAROLE AND PARDON SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, THE ALSTON WILKES SOCIETY, AND OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR ENTITIES THROUGH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING TO ASSIST INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS IN PREPARING FOR MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT UPON THEIR RELEASE FROM CONFINEMENT; AND TO AMEND TITLE 43, CHAPTER 31, RELATING TO THE STATE'S PROVISIONS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION, BY ADDING SECTION 43-31-160 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION HAS THE ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND ARE 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.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:
Offender Employment Preparation Program
SECTION 1. Chapter 13, Title 24 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:
Section 24-13-2110. 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, Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Alston Wilkes Society, and other private sector entities.
Section 24-13-2120. The Department of Corrections, Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, the Employment Security Commission, and the Alston Wilkes Society shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes the respective responsibilities of each agency. Each agency shall adopt policies and procedures as may be necessary to implement the memorandum of understanding.
Section 24-13-2130. The memorandum of understanding between the South Carolina Department of Corrections, Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, Employment Security Commission, 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 release from confinement and providing him with vocational and academic education and life skills assessments as may be appropriate;
(2) developing skills enhancement programs for inmates, as appropriate;
(3) coordinating job referrals and related services to inmates prior to 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 governmental and private sectors;
(7) surveying employment trends within the State and making proposals to the Department of Corrections regarding potential vocational training activities.
Section 24-13-2140. The Department of Corrections shall coordinate the efforts of the affected state agencies through the Program Services Administration. The Department of Corrections shall:
(1) develop such policies and standards as may be necessary for the provision of assessment, training, and referral services;
(2) obtain information from appropriate agencies and organizations affiliated with the services to determine actions that should be undertaken to create or modify these services;
(3) disseminate information about the services throughout the State;
(4) provide information and assistance to other agencies, as may be appropriate or necessary, to carry out the provisions of this chapter;
(5) provide inmates of the Department of Corrections information concerning postrelease 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, and the Office of Veterans Affairs;
(6) prepare an annual report that will be submitted to the directors of each agency that is a party to a memorandum of understanding as provided for in Section 24-13-2120;
(7) negotiate with Alston Wilkes Society and private sector entities concerning the delivery of assistance or services to inmates who are transitioning from incarceration to reentering their communities."
Vocational rehabilitation
SECTION 2. Chapter 31, Title 43 of 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 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."
Time effective
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor; however, the implementation of this act is contingent upon the appropriation of necessary funds to carry out the provisions of this act.
Ratified the 5th day of June, 2001.
Approved the 31st day of August, 2001.
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