HB 1551 Summary

• Establishes a minimum-security housing program within the Department of Public Safety in a county with population exceeding 750,000 to house up to 450 short-term adult offenders.

• Eligible offenders include probation or parole violators, furlough violators with substance abuse issues, sentenced felon probationers, and sentenced misdemeanants identified as high-risk for substance abuse or recidivism.

• Program aims to alleviate overcrowding at community correctional facilities and provide substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral intervention, and transitional programming with Department of Health assistance.

• Program includes capacity to house adult males in a furlough program in a minimum-security setting.

• Authorizes general obligation bonds for facility design and construction, with general revenue appropriations for staff hiring, operations, and treatment services for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.