Committee hears bill to expand use of Veteran Reentry Search Service in jails; supporters cite reentry benefits and advocates note privacy questions

The Veterans and Military Development Committee accepted a substitute to Senate Bill 179 and heard testimony describing how the Veterans Reentry Search Service (VRSS) could improve identification of justice-involved veterans and connect them to services.

Representative Gambari moved the substitute and summarized key changes: limiting which agencies must run VRSS (leaving certain searches to county sheriffs and incarcerating institutions), defining ‘incarcerating institution,’ avoiding duplicative searches when another institution has complied, streamlining VRSS assessments, and allowing county veterans service commissions to provide financial assistance for equipment or training when resources are unavailable from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The substitute was accepted without objection.

Retired Judge Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, representing the Ohio Bar Association, described VRSS and its goals: "Very simple. All you do is send the Social Security numbers at night to the VA. They immediately ping the VJO for that county, who then can verify their status with their internal resources, go meet with them in jail, connect them with services, try to get them into Veterans courts if they qualify." She cited local rollouts that identified additional veterans who had not self‑identified and said VRSS helps channel veterans to housing vouchers, mental‑health and substance‑use treatment, employment programs and VA clinics.

Mayshayla Burris of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center testified in support, arguing the bill is pragmatic and would improve coordination with Veterans Justice Outreach specialists. "By passing sub senate bill 179, we are creating a more just and fair reentry experience for Ohio's veterans," she told the committee, and emphasized rehabilitation and lowered recidivism through targeted veteran services.

Members asked about data protections and possible negative effects of listing veteran status in jail registers. Representative Willis asked whether listing a person as a veteran on a jail register could cause negative outcomes; Burris replied she did not see that as a concern and stressed the advocacy group's focus on protecting incarcerated people's rights. Judge Stratton and other witnesses noted VRSS is already used by some counties and the Department of Corrections runs VRSS to pick up individuals missed at the local level.

Lawmakers also discussed upstream strategies and diversion: Stratton said she and others are working on a diversion bill to give judges discretion to divert veterans into treatment tracks and away from criminal records. The committee concluded the second hearing on SB 179 after testimony and questions.