A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to appropriate funds to the department of correction for treatment of inmates with drug and alcohol addiction through private drug and alcohol treatment facilities.
Whereas, the State of North Carolina has an interest in promoting the treatment of inmates with alcohol and drug dependencies; and
Whereas, drug and alcohol dependency disorders represent a serious and costly health problem for the citizens of North Carolina; and
Whereas, certain programs are effective in the treatment of inmates with drug and alcohol addiction and therefore reduce recidivism; and
Whereas, substance abuse problems drive many rearrests; and
Whereas, inmates who are provided intensive treatment and have the opportunity to be enrolled in skills training and work release programs are less likely to return to prison; and
Whereas, empirical data suggest that 64% of inmates have a substance dependency problem and are incarcerated because of crimes related to drugs or alcohol; and
Whereas, programs designed to provide intensive treatment combined with skills training, the teaching of life‑learning skills, and the provision of employment opportunities allow offenders the opportunity to develop sound workplace skills; and
Whereas, these efforts can lead to employment opportunities toward the latter part of their sentence, whereby offenders can begin court‑ordered restitution payments and repay a portion of the cost of incarceration; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Correction the sum of two million nine hundred twenty thousand dollars ($2,920,000) for the 2007‑2008 fiscal year and the sum of eight million seven hundred sixty thousand dollars ($8,760,000) for the 2008‑2009 fiscal year to provide contractual intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment to inmates who have been diagnosed as needing such treatment through the assessment tools used by the Department.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of Correction shall first issue a request for proposals or employ another appropriate bidding process or procedure to determine contract terms or conditions under which private for profit or nonprofit firms will offer to provide and operate treatment centers at various locations across the state totaling 300 beds for inmates committed to the custody of the Department of Correction. One facility shall be located in the eastern part of the state, one facility shall be located in the Piedmont Triad region, and one facility shall be located in the western part of the state. The total number of beds per facility shall be determined by the Secretary, but no facility shall house more than 125 inmates or less than 75 inmates. Each facility shall provide intensive treatment services to inmates diagnosed as requiring treatment for drugs or alcohol addiction or abuse, a skills training component, a program designed to improve the inmates' educational level, and a work release component. The Secretary may also consider requiring a program designed to teach and improve parenting skills of inmates in the request for proposals. Inmates assigned to these facilities shall begin their program of treatment during the last 18 months to two years of incarceration.
SECTION 3.  Prior to the award of any contract under this act, the Secretary shall report the results of the request for proposals or another bidding procedure to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, and the Fiscal Research Division.
SECTION 4.  The Secretary of Correction shall establish procedures for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these facilities' programs based upon the level and quality of intensive treatment provided, the rate of recidivism, the inmates' efforts and successes in improving their educational levels and skills training, and the income earned during the inmates' last 12 to 18 months in these facilities. The Department shall report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations, and the Fiscal Research Division no later than one year after each facility has been operational and each year thereafter.
SECTION 5.  Nothing in this act affects existing contracts with providers of services to inmates that are similar to those to be provided under this act.
SECTION 6.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2007.