Bill Analysis — HB 2203, Pilot Project to Assist Incarcerated Veterans (Washington House)
Summary
Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research bill analysis for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee on HB 2203, creating a pilot project to assist incarcerated veterans, with a hearing date of 1/17/24 and staff member Martha Wehling. The brief summary states that the bill creates a pilot project for reentry to civilian life, appoints a reentry navigator to assist with a reentry plan on housing, employment, education and access to services, and provides a housing and reentry subsidy for the first year of civilian life. The background section covers veterans benefits and services and Edmonds College programs. It states that the pilot project must be coordinated with existing programs, and a fiscal note was requested on January 9, 2024.
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“Bill Analysis — HB 2203, Pilot Project to Assist Incarcerated Veterans (Washington House).”
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Washington State BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
HB 2203
Brief Description: Creating a pilot project to assist incarcerated veterans.
Sponsors: Representatives Ryu, Walen, Paul, Reeves, Ormsby, Hackney, Fey, Reed, Taylor,
Doglio, Donaghy, Goodman, Leavitt and Davis.
Brief Summary of Bill
• Creates a pilot project to assist incarcerated veterans with reentry to
civilian life.
• Appoints a reentry navigator to assist incarcerated veterans with a
reentry plan that will address housing, employment, education, and
access to services.
• Provides a housing and reentry subsidy to assist veterans during the first
year of civilian life.
Hearing Date: 1/17/24
Staff: Martha Wehling (786-7067).
Background:
Benefits and Services Available to Veterans.
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) provides a variety of services and
benefits to veterans in Washington including counseling, claims assistance, employment,
education, training, burial, housing, medical care, business certification, and relief programs.
Certain veterans are eligible to receive additional benefits, such as scoring preferences on civil
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
constitute a statement of legislative intent.
House Bill Analysis -1- HB 2203
service exams, special license plates, homeownership down payment assistance programs,
property tax relief, and tuition waivers, reductions, and other education benefits. The WDVA
offers long-term care in four state veterans homes for certain veterans and family members. The
Transitioning Warrior Program assists veterans based on Joint Base Lewis McChord with claims
assistance, benefits, outreach to the communities, and referral services for transitioning veterans
and families. Through the Department of Commerce, the WDVA provided digital equipment
and literacy instruction, focused on underserved low-income and rural veterans.
Edmonds College Programs.
Edmonds College has programs that provide formerly incarcerated individuals with academic
and mental health counseling, financial assistance, and computers to help those individuals
reintegrate into society. Edmonds College partners with Monroe Correctional Complex to assist
incarcerated individuals with earning a GED, high school diploma, professional certification, or
associate degree. Edmonds College's veteran's outreach specialist and federal Homeless
Veterans' Reintegration Program navigator works with incarcerated veterans. Benefits provided
to veteran students include reduced tuition, tuition waivers for family members, counseling,
employment services, priority class registration, delayed tuition, gap funding, and emergency
funds.
Department of Corrections Employment, Education, and Reentry Programs.
The Department of Corrections (Corrections) manages all state-operated adult prisons and
supervises individuals who live in the community and are under supervision. As part of its
operations, Corrections is required to offer certain education and work force programs to
incarcerated individuals, prioritizing basic skills and a high school diploma or equivalent. The
associate workforce degree program was created in 2017 and allows accredited community or
technical colleges, colleges, or universities to prepare incarcerated individuals to enter the work
force. Corrections may select an individual to participate in a state-funded associate degree
program based on priority criteria.
Corrections operates a comprehensive work program for incarcerated individuals through the
Correction Industries program. Some of the industries within the program provide basic work
training and experience to incarcerated individuals.
Corrections is required to develop individual reentry plans for each incarcerated individual under
its jurisdiction, with limited exceptions. The reentry plans include: plans to maintain contact
with family; a portfolio of the individual's educational achievements, previous employment and
work experience, and any training received; and a plan to facilitate reentry into the community
that addresses education, employment, substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment,
family reunification, and other needs.
Corrections has additional policies that address veterans, including: establishment of a veterans
unit providing veteran housing; designation of a facility employee as a point of contact to assist
House Bill Analysis -2- HB 2203
veterans with resources, reentry, and benefits; and participation in raising and lowering of colors,
a structured fitness program, holiday celebrations, fund raisers, and displaying the military seal
from a veteran's service branch on his or her cell door and identification card.
Summary of Bill:
The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is required to administer a six-year
pilot project to assist incarcerated veterans reintegrate to civilian life by providing information
on available services, a housing subsidy, and a reentry subsidy. "Veteran" means every person,
regardless of discharge status, with certain specified service terms.
Coordination to Avoid Benefit Overpayment.
The WDVA will coordinate with the Department of Corrections (Corrections) annually to
identify all veterans incarcerated within the preceding year. Corrections will assist those
veterans receiving federal Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation or
pension benefits with notifying the VA if the veteran will be incarcerated for more than 60 days.
The purpose of the notification is to avoid overpayment of federal benefits.
Pilot Project Site.
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will select up to two pilot project sites
and will give consideration to Edmonds College. The first site must be west, and the second site
east, of the Cascades.
Pilot Project.
Reentry Navigator.
The WDVA will appoint a reentry navigator, who will:
• identify all incarcerated veterans with release dates within two years by coordinating with
Corrections at least annually;
• contact each incarcerated veteran within one year of the veteran's release date and provide
information on educational opportunities, services, and resources available after release;
• develop a reentry plan within three months of a participating veteran's release date. The
reentry plan must include:
• an assessment of anticipated living expenses;
• educational opportunities to train for employment;
• eligibility for assistance programs, such as educational benefits and the Department
of Social and Health Services' Basic Food Employment and Training program; and
• contact information for services in the county the veteran plans to reside in after
release.
Housing Subsidy.
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The WDVA will provide a housing subsidy up to $200 per month to veterans participating in the
pilot project for up to one year after release. The WDVA and reentry navigator will develop
criteria to determine eligibility for housing assistance; priority must be given to veterans who
apply or enroll in an educational institution within three months of release.
Reentry Subsidy.
The WDVA will provide a reentry subsidy up to $2,000 during the first year after release. The
WDVA and reentry navigator will identify appropriate expenses for reimbursement including
clothing, car insurance, cellular phone, home furnishings, or food. The WDVA is required to
timely pay eligible expenses.
Additional Support.
The WDVA and reentry navigator may provide additional support through the pilot project, such
as:
• identification of housing opportunities;
• identification of training to assist veterans in the transition from incarceration to
community; or
• support, mentoring, life skills training, and assistance with access to services and benefits
for veterans.
The pilot project must be coordinated with existing programs to minimize duplication and to
identify and assist those veterans most in need.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 9, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.
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