Committee approves $20 million grant program for county jail reentry services
Summary
Senate Bill 13-12 would authorize $20 million from the consumer restitution subaccount for two-year grants to sheriff’s offices to establish or expand county reentry services; the committee recommended a due pass.
The House Appropriations Committee recommended a due pass for Senate Bill 13-12 on March 26, a bill that would appropriate $20 million from the attorney general’s consumer restitution subaccount for two-year grants to county sheriffs to continue or establish coordinated reentry planning services.
Sponsor Senator Hilda Angius said the program builds on earlier pilot funding for county jail reentry and cited demonstrated reductions in recidivism in counties that have programs — testimony at the hearing noted roughly 40 percent reduction in Yavapai and about 30 percent in Mohave County. The bill sets grant criteria and caps awards at $3 million per county while excluding Maricopa and Pima counties from eligibility because they already have robust reentry programs.
The Arizona Sheriffs’ Association testified in overwhelming support, and association and county speakers told the committee the funding could be used to expand services — including case management, detox facilities and transitional housing — that reduce repeat incarceration and downstream costs to counties. The sponsor said the appropriation would come from the consumer restitution subaccount held by the attorney general and is not general-fund money.
The committee voted 14 yeses, 3 noes and 1 not voting; SB 13-12 received a due-pass recommendation.
