Senate committee advances paired bills funding reentry training accounts and transitional housing for people leaving custody

Senate members advanced a pair of bills that would fund workforce training and transitional housing for people released from state custody, moving both measures forward with unanimous committee support.

Senator Jaramillo introduced a bill to create individual training accounts (ITAs) for people released from custody, saying the accounts would be part of a comprehensive workforce plan tied to federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) resources. Sponsors said the legislation would allocate a set number of ITAs — 272 in the presentation — targeted to supplement WIOA funds and local workforce boards. Testimony described eligible trainings including culinary arts, commercial driver’s license (CDL) certification and heavy equipment training; programs must be on the eligible training provider list (ETPL) overseen by the Department of Workforce Solutions.

Chef Fernando Ruiz and a reentry graduate, Isaac Sork, described how culinary training in corrections helped transition people into steady employment; advocates and municipal representatives including Taylor Cook from the Governor’s office and representatives of reentry nonprofits testified in favor.

Senator Jaramillo also presented SB350, a companion bill that would appropriate $6 million for transitional housing supports and rental assistance for the reentry population. Goodwill Industries said the coalition of providers worked on the bills for a year and provided program outcomes and draft budgets to the committee.

Committee discussion covered targeting, coordination with federal funds, and program timelines. An amendment was filed and explained by staff to align the appropriation across departments and operationalize program language in department budgets. Committee members asked whether the funds in the bills were already included in House Bill 2; sponsors replied reconciliation with the budget process was ongoing and that programmatic appropriation was under consideration.

Senator Sanchez moved a do‑pass on the training accounts measure; Senator Bergman seconded. The committee recorded the motion as do pass; the clerk recorded the vote as 10–0 in favor. For the transitional housing measure, the committee likewise recorded a do‑pass recommendation with the record showing all present in support.

Proponents told the committee these investments reduce recidivism and homelessness by pairing skills training, case management and housing stabilization in the critical first months after release.