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Committee hears about last session—s reentry provisions, Medicaid waiver and juvenile placements
Summary
Legislative counsel briefed the Senate Institutions Committee on Jan. 14 about reentry provisions in last year—s corrections law, ongoing Medicaid waiver work and high costs tied to juvenile out-of-state placements.
Legislative counsel attorneys told the Senate Institutions Committee on Jan. 14 about corrections and reentry measures enacted last session and about continuing issues the committee may address, including the women's facility replacement, continuity of care on release, and juvenile out-of-state placements.
Beno Bogrossi, an attorney with the Office of Legislative Counsel, summarized key provisions that emerged from last session—s corrections legislation. He said bill 1876 was enacted as Act 159 and that "the big takeaway from that bill was codifying reentry medication — the provision of reentry medication so for those that are preparing to be released from a facility, to ensure that any medication that they're receiving can continue so it's uninterrupted as they enter." He said provisions included free non-driver identification cards for people about to be released, a limited supply of bridge prescriptions on release and improved coordination of medical appointments through the Department of Corrections.
Bogrossi also said a federal Medicaid "1115 waiver" application is in process to allow people who are incarcerated to access Medicaid benefits in certain circumstances; currently incarcerated individuals generally cannot receive Medicaid. He said the ID program had been a longstanding contract between DMV and DOC that the statute essentially codified and that non-driver IDs provided under that arrangement are free.
Committee members discussed the design of a replacement women—s facility and restorative models studied in other states. Chair Wendy Harrison and others noted Maine—s facility was offered as a model that has a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach with lower operating costs and lower recidivism. Members also raised juvenile placement challenges: Bogrossi and senators said Vermont continues to rely on out-of-state placements for some juveniles and that the per-capita cost in those cases can be high; one senator said the per-individual price tag for some out-of-state juvenile placements can reach six figures per year.
No formal votes or policy decisions were taken; staff offered to walk committee members through Act 159 and the corrections miscellaneous bill at a future meeting.
