PRINTER'S NO. 607
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
651
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY D. MILLER, BULLOCK, KINSEY, N. NELSON,
SCHLOSSBERG, SANCHEZ, A. DAVIS, HILL-EVANS, MADDEN, CIRESI,
FREEMAN, KINKEAD, INNAMORATO AND ROZZI, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 24, 2021
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in safe community reentry, further
providing for definitions and for Safe Community Reentry
Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4902 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
ยง 4902. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Reentry certificate." A certificate that serves as proof of
participation in the program and completion of all approved
programs while incarcerated.
Section 2. Section 4903 of Title 61 is amended by adding a
subsection to read:
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ยง 4903. Safe Community Reentry Program.
* * *
(f) Reentry certificate.--
(1) Prior to an offender's release, the department shall
issue the offender a reentry certificate, which indicates, at
a minimum, the following:
(i) The needs-assessed treatment programs completed
by the offender.
(ii) The educational programs completed by the
offender. The following apply:
(A) The activities under this subparagraph shall
reflect any academic program that the offender
completed or in which the offender enrolled during
the current incarceration of the offender.
(B) Unless completed as part of an
institutional-based program, all general education
development, high school and higher education program
information shall be self-reported by the offender.
(C) If the offender self-reported completion of
general education development, high school or higher
education requirements, the reentry certificate of
the offender shall so indicate.
(D) The reentry certificate shall indicate any
academic program in which the offender is enrolled
during the current incarceration of the offender and
the current status as of the date of the reentry
certificate.
(iii) The vocational and work history of the
offender, including job skills, work details, on-the-job
training and vocational education participation.
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(iv) The p ersonal development of the offender and
other special programs in which the offender
participated, including:
(A) Voluntary programming completed by the
offender that is beyond the programs required or
identified through an assessment.
(B) Programs that the offender believes will
enhance the overall development of the offender and
the successful reentry of the offender into the
community.
(2) The department shall provide for the creation and
printing of a reentry certificate for an offender at the
facility where the offender is located. The following apply:
(i) If, for any reason, the offender is deemed
ineligible for release after the printing of the reentry
certificate, the department shall destroy the reentry
certificate.
(ii) If a discrepancy in the information provided on
the reentry certificate is discovered, the offender may
request a corrective reprint of the reentry certificate
subject to verification by the department.
(iii) After release from incarceration, the offender
may request copies of the reentry certificate from the
department. Copies shall be printed and notarized by the
facility where the offender was incarcerated.
(3) A r eentry certificate presented to an employer shall
create a presumption of due care as to the hiring of an
individual to whom the reentry certificate was issued in
relation to the individual's stated programmatic progress,
educational advancement, work force skills and completion of
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the program. Nothing in this section shall relieve the
employer from ensuring the completion of any required
background clearance, meeting any other related industry
standard or providing appropriate supervision for the
position.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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