Correction, Dept. of - As enacted, requires the department to study the issues associated with constructing and operating a reentry facility that would house eligible inmates who are working toward return from incarcerat, the official text

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                     ~tate of \lrennessee

                         PUBLIC CHAPTER NO. 351

                                                  HOUSE BILL NO. 1090

                By Mr. Speaker Sexton and Representatives Gant, Hardaway, Terry

                                       Substituted for: Senate Bill No. 1201

                                       By Senators Jackson, Lamar, Yarbro

         AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4; Title 40 and Title 41, relative to
corrections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

          SECTION 1.

                    (a) The department of correction shall study the issues associated with
          constructing and operating a reentry facility that would house eligible inmates who are
          working toward return from incarceration into the community.

                    (b) The study required pursuant to subsection (a) must include:

                              (1) A list of criteria to be used to determine the inmates best suited for
                    being housed in the reentry facility, including educational and rehabilitative
                    criteria;

                              (2) The percentage of inmates who qualify for work, educational, or
                    vocational training programs currently and who are not able to participate in such
                    programs due to unavailability of positions or other prohibitive factors;

                              (3) The most beneficial time in which an eligible inmate would qualify to
                    be housed at a reentry facility that is no earlier than two (2) years prior to the
                    inmate's release eligibility date;

                              (4) An evaluation of the issues associated with housing inmates in an
                    environment that serves as a residential reentry facility, allowing eligible inmates
                    to work during the day and return to the facility in the evenings;

                               (5) An assessment of the resources needed to successfully operate a
                    reentry facility, including, but not limited to, community and law enforcement
                    partnerships;

                               (6) A survey of other similar facilities in other states that may be in
                     operation and the outcomes and issues associated with operating those facilities;

                               (7) An implementation strategy for constructing and operating a reentry
                     facility in this state;

                               (8) The costs associated with constructing and operating a reentry facility,
                     including an evaluation of both a state-funded and a public-private partnership
                     option, and recommended locations for a reentry facility; and

                               (9) A list and evaluation of any other needs associated with constructing
                     and operating a reentry facility, including, but not limited to, information sharing,
                     intelligence exchange, community engagement, and transitional social services.

                     (c) All appropriate agencies of state government shall provide assistance to the
           department for purposes of conducting the study pursuant to this act.

                     (d) The department shall compile a report of the department's findings and
           recommendations, which may include potential legislation. The report must be submitted
HB1090
          to the speaker of the house of representatives and the speaker of the senate no later
          than January 1, 2026.
                    (e) The department shall pay any costs associated with the study required by
          subsection (a) from the department's existing resources, which may include the
          department's reserve fund.
          SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.

                                                                2
                    HOUSE BILL NO. 1090

PASSED:  April 15, 2025

                         CAMERON SEXTON, SPEAKER
                         HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                                 RANDY MCNILLY
                                    SPEAKER OF THE SE"ATE

'J ~ APPROVED this ....,;;Jvday of       2025

BILL LEE, GOVERNOR       Ur.