Findings

Congress finds the following: (1)States average a 60 percent rate of recidivism among veterans. (2)As a demonstration program in seven States, the Incarcerated Veterans Transition Program (IV–TP) has cut recidivism among its veterans by 90 percent. (3)Of the veterans engaged in the national IV–TP program, 90 percent were moved into permanent housing and 72 percent became gainfully employed. (4)IV–TP saves taxpayers millions of dollars a year in incarceration costs and stimulates local job growth and economic development. In Kentucky’s IV–TP, for example, studies show that up to 166 individuals from the program would have re-offended and returned to a correctional institution at a financial cost of $1.6 million per year. The aggregate annual wages of the veterans assisted by the Kentucky IV–TP program is more than $2.1 million.

Establishment of grant program for referral and counseling services to assist at-risk veterans transitioning into the workplace

(a)

Program authority

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs (hereinafter in this section referred to as the Secretary) shall establish a workforce reentry program for eligible veterans consisting of job referral, counseling, and other services deemed necessary by the Secretary to minimize recidivism and improve job placement. (b)

Location of program

The program shall be carried out in at least twenty-four locations equitably distributed within the United States. One location shall be a penal institution under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons. (c)

Scope of program

(1)To the extent practicable, the program shall provide both referral and counseling services, including assistance with job training and placement (including job readiness), housing, health care, and other benefits to assist eligible veterans in the transition from institutional living. (2)(A)To the extent that referral or counseling services are provided at a location under the program, the Secretary must ensure that referral services are administered in person preceding the date of release or discharge from incarceration. Counseling services must begin after an eligible veteran is discharged from incarceration. The Secretary may determine an acceptable period of time to begin referral and counseling services. (B)The Secretary may, as part of the program, furnish to officials of penal institutions outreach information with respect to referral and counseling services for presentation to veterans in the custody of such officials during the 18-month period that precedes such date of release or discharge. (3)

Eligible entities

The Secretary may distribute funds to eligible entities to carry out the referral and counseling services required under the program. Eligible entities may include: Relevant State agencies, non-profit organizations, or State and local workforce investment boards as defined in sections 111 and 117 of the Workforce Investment Act. Eligible entities must have demonstrated competence in managing grants and the capability to provide referrals to other service providers. (4)In developing the program, the Secretary shall consult with officials of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, officials of penal institutions of States and political subdivisions of States, and such other officials as the Secretary determines appropriate. (d)

Duration

The Secretary shall have authority to make grants for fiscal years 2008 to 2011. (e)

Evaluation

Each program shall provide a report to the Secretary containing all relevant program data including percentage of veterans moved into permanent housing, percentage of veterans gainfully employed, and rates of recidivism among participants. Grantees must submit an evaluation exactly three years after grants are awarded. (f)

Definition

In this section, the term eligible veteran means a veteran who— (1)is a resident of a penal institution or an institution that provides long-term care for mental illness; and (2)is at risk for homelessness absent referral and counseling services provided under the program (as determined under guidelines established by the Secretary). (g)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011 to carry out this program.