Bill Text: WV SB609 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Implementing responsible parent program pilot project
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-22 - To Judiciary [SB609 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2013-SB609-Introduced.html
Senate Bill No. 609
(By Senators Laird, Cookman, Miller, Snyder, Stollings, Wells, Yost, Plymale, Fitzsimmons and Jenkins)
____________
[Introduced March 22, 2013; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.]
____________
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §25-8-1, relating to authorizing the Division of Corrections to implement a responsible parent program pilot project; setting forth requirements to participate in the program; setting forth program goals; and requiring a report.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §25-8-1, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 8. RESPONSIBLE PARENT PROGRAM PILOT-PROJECT.
§25-8-1. Authorization; prerequisites; requirements; report.
(a) In an effort to improve child and family well-being and to empower men and women with the skills and resources needed to succeed as parents and as family providers, the Division of Corrections is authorized to implement a twenty-four-month pilot project to establish a responsible parenting program that:
(1) Identifies for enrollment in the program persons who:
(A) Are parents of one or more children;
(B) Are present or former recipients of Temporary Aid to Needy Families or have one or more children who are receiving Temporary Aid to Needy Families;
(C) Have an income that is at two hundred percent or below the federal poverty level;
(D) Are within nine months of their release from prison or have been previously incarcerated; and
(E) Currently reside or will reside in Kanawha, Cabell, Raleigh, Mason, Mercer, McDowell, Wood, Randolph, Putnam or Harrison Counties.
(2) Includes a course of instruction, that may include, but is not limited to:
(A) Healthy marriage/relationship skills;
(B) Parenting skills;
(C) Job seeking training that includes:
(i) Knowledge of personal aptitudes, skills and preferences;
(ii) Knowledge of different types of employment opportunities;
(iii) Resume drafting, completion of a job application, drafting a cover letter and follow-up letter; and
(iv) Interview skills;
(D) Vocational training;
(E) Basics of domestic violence; and
(F) Drug and/or alcohol addiction.
(3) Requires the successful completion of a transitional job assignment.
(b) If a pilot project is implemented by the Division of Corrections, it shall submit a report on the results of the pilot project to the Interim Joint Committee on Judiciary each year during implementation of the pilot project. The results shall include, at a minimum:
(1) Key process measures, including:
(A) The number of participants served;
(B) The demographics of participants;
(C) Attendance/participation in training elements;
(D) The knowledge acquired by participants;
(E) Participant behavior changes as a result of program participation;
(F) The number of participants gaining employment and their wages earned;
(G) The number of participants completing vocational training; (H) The number of participants successfully completing transitional job assignments;
(I) The number of participants demonstrating workforce readiness; and
(J) The recidivism rate of participants.
(2) An unbiased comparison of the outcomes between program participants and similarly situated persons not in the program.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize a responsible parent pilot project by the Division of Corrections. The bill sets forth requirements to participate in the program and program goals. The bill also requires a report.
§25-8-1 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.
