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Senate panel advances bill to pilot skilled-trades reentry program for formerly incarcerated people
Summary
The Senate Committee on Public Safety advanced SB 75, a pilot program to connect formerly incarcerated people to skilled-trades jobs. Supporters said the program targets employment gaps for people reentering society, especially women; no opposing witnesses testified.
Senate Committee on Public Safety members voted to advance SB 75, a bill by Senator Smallwood Cuevas that would create a prison-reentry pilot to connect formerly incarcerated people with training and placement in skilled trades.
The bill, presented by Senator Smallwood Cuevas, aims to create a structured pathway for people leaving state custody to obtain long-term employment in the skilled trades. The author described the measure as a “pilot program” that will include “comprehensive evaluation of employment retention and recidivism reduction” and said the goal is to scale the model statewide if it proves effective.
Tatiana, an organizer with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and multiple public-safety and reentry organizations testified in support. Tatiana described her own experience after release, saying she had “no road map, no support system” and that when she finally got a training opportunity, she succeeded. “One day, the opportunity came, and I worked really hard,” she said.
Vice Chair Sayarto and other senators praised the bill as matching workforce needs with rehabilitation goals. Senator Sayarto said training done while people are incarcerated can shorten the time they need in transitional programs after release so they can enter the workforce more quickly.
The committee voted to pass SB 75 to the Appropriations Committee. The author said she will bring a motion for final committee action when a quorum is established.
Outcome and next steps: The bill moved forward in committee for fiscal review; authors and supporters said they plan to evaluate pilot outcomes and seek broader implementation if the pilot demonstrates reduced recidivism and improved employment retention.
