HB3335ham001 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Rep. Kevin John Olickal

Filed: 3/21/2023

10300HB3335ham001 LRB103 29640 RLC 59581 a

AMENDMENT TO HOUSE BILL 3335

AMENDMENT NO. ______. Amend House Bill 3335 by replacing everything after the enacting clause with the following:

"Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by adding Section 3-14-4.6 as follows:

(730 ILCS 5/3-14-4.6 new)

Sec. 3-14-4.6. Rental stipends for persons released from Department correctional institutions and facilities.

(a) The Department of Corrections may provide temporary housing assistance for a person being released from a correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections through the use of rental stipends, for a period not to exceed 12 months, if the Department finds that such assistance will support the person's release into the community by preventing housing instability or homelessness or if a person is unable to find housing as a condition of the person's release from a correctional facility. A person may not receive a combined total of rental stipends in excess of 12 months for each release from a correctional institution or facility of the Department of Corrections.

(b) The Department of Corrections shall establish policies for prioritizing funds available for rental stipends under this Section for persons at risk of becoming homeless or becoming homeless without assistance while taking into account risk to reoffend. If housing is outlined as part of a person's release agreement, the Department of Corrections must use the rental stipend to find the person safe housing.

(c) Stipends must be provided in conjunction with additional transition support programming or services that enable an offender to participate in services including, but not limited to, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, sex offender treatment, educational programming, technology competency, employment programming, or a combination of those programs or services.

(d) The Department shall maintain a list of housing providers that meets the requirements of this Section. However, the final determination in use of the stipend is to be determined by the individual not the landlord or the Department of Corrections.

The Department of Corrections must gather data in order to best demonstrate whether rental stipends are effective in reducing recidivism.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the Illinois Housing Development Authority shall conduct an outcome evaluation and benefit-cost analysis of the rental stipend. The analysis shall take into account impacts on homelessness, recidivism, criminal justice costs, use of public services, and other factors determined to be appropriate by the Illinois Housing Development Authority. The Department of Corrections shall cooperate with the organizations tracking this progress including but not limited to, Saint Leonard's Ministries and the Illinois Department of Housing to facilitate access to data or other resources necessary to complete the analysis required under this Section. A final report to the Governor and appropriate committees of the General Assembly shall be submitted on or before December 1, 2025.".