Legislators hear plan to create small Office of Reentry Services in Department of Labor

Representative Carrie Seekins Crowe told the committee her bill aims to reduce recidivism by better coordinating state programs and sustaining services after release. “The first goal is to kind of stop recidivism,” she said, outlining plans to bring Departments of Commerce, Corrections, Justice, Health and Human Services, tribal colleges and community providers into a collaboration.

Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry, described the proposed office as a small three‑person team — a program manager, a business analyst and an administrative specialist — inside the Workforce Services Division. She said the office would focus on reducing duplication across government and improving handoffs from incarceration to community case management. Swanson also detailed a fiscal plan, saying initial state special revenue expenditures estimated at roughly $510,773 in the first year would be paid from the department’s Employment Security Account; she noted HB 718 and a companion statutory change to the ESA are contingent on one another.

Advocates and providers including Don Cape and the coalition Opening Doors urged lawmakers to back the bill, citing research and local program experience showing vocational training and education lower recidivism. Committee members asked about contractor partners, coordination with out‑of‑state contract facilities, juvenile justice and timelines for case management; Swanson and the sponsor said many implementation details will be worked out in coordination with Corrections, tribal partners and higher education if the legislation advances.

The hearing closed with the sponsor asking members to concur.