HI HB998

Requires the Department of Public Safety to collect data upon intake of offenders into the correctional system beginning July 1, 2016, including the number of offenders who are parents and the number of their children under age eighteen.

Directs the Department of Public Safety to collaborate with the family reunification working group and other stakeholders to develop forms and questions for collecting this data from incoming offenders.

Requires the Department to develop a management plan for the collected data and procedures for public disclosure in accordance with applicable laws.

Addresses the issue that an estimated 2,700,000 children nationwide have incarcerated parents and children of incarcerated parents are at higher risk of incarceration themselves.

Effective date is July 1, 2020.