Amends TCA Title 5; Title 8, Chapter 26; Title 40; Title 41 and Title 49.

Generally, under present law, counties may house felons of this state and receive reimbursement from the department of correction for costs related to such housing. <br /> <br /> This bill adds a requirement for the department of correction to pay a recidivism-reduction stipend to counties in which the county jail houses convicted felons pursuant to a contract with the state or houses convicted felons awaiting transfer to a state facility, and provides evidence-based programs to the inmates designed to reduce recidivism rates among convicted felons. The reimbursement will not apply in Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, or Shelby County. <br /> <br /> Under this bill, the recidivism-reduction stipend must be set at an additional $5.00 per day to be added to the reimbursement for each convicted felon who is enrolled in a qualifying program at the county jail. If a felon is enrolled in more than one program, the department must pay a stipend for each program in which the felon is enrolled.<br /> <br /> The department must determine the eligibility of qualifying programs, which may focus on education, vocational training, mental health, substance abuse rehabilitation, building healthy relationships, or any other specialty that can be shown by scientific research to effectively reduce the recidivism rate of felons and increase the likelihood of success following the release from incarceration. Each eligible program must be evidence-based and matched to the risk needs of enrolled offenders.<br /> <br /> In order to maintain the recidivism-reduction stipend, the county must provide documentation that at least 70 percent of felons who enroll in the program go on to complete the program in a timely manner as determined by the department.<br /> <br /> After a program has been in existence for three years, the department must review the recidivism rates of felons who complete programs to determine whether the program has been effective in reducing recidivism rates. If the program does not reduce the recidivism rate by at least 25 percent, the program will no longer be eligible for the additional stipend as a qualifying program.<br /> <br /> Under this bill, Tennessee's community colleges and Tennessee's colleges of applied technology are authorized and encouraged to assist county governments in the development of programs, particularly relative to identifying appropriate job training and workforce development programs that will be in demand in that country's region. This bill authorizes the board of regents and such colleges to contract and partner with local governments and sheriff's departments to effectuate these workforce development programs. <br /> <br /> For rulemaking purposes, this bill will take effect upon becoming a law. For all other purposes, this bill will take effect January 1, 2022. <br />