This law highlights the importance of helping people who are released from prison reintegrate into their communities. Released offenders often return to where they lived before being incarcerated. The law suggests that offering them housing and support services like job training, education, and counseling can help them become productive community members and lower repeat crime rates. However, local agencies may be hesitant to approve such community facilities. To encourage more transitional housing, the state proposes providing grants to communities willing to support these services for ex-offenders.

This law establishes the Community-Based Transitional Housing Program, which is managed by the Department of Finance. Only cities, counties, and cities with counties can apply to be part of this program.

The funding for this program comes from money set aside in the Budget Act or similar measures, and any funds earmarked must be used within three fiscal years.

This section explains that for a city or county to get funds from a specific program, they must have a facility that meets certain criteria. First, the facility must offer transitional housing for at least 10 years to people released from prison or jail after completing sentences for felony or misdemeanor convictions.

Next, the facility must either provide or contract for at least two additional services such as life skills training, job counseling, education, therapy, or substance abuse treatment.

Moreover, the facility’s operator and any contracted service providers must hold all necessary licenses as required by state and local laws.

This section outlines the application process for receiving program funding for facilities serving offenders. Applications should be submitted to the department by specified dates and must include a resolution from local authorities approving the issuance of necessary permits. These permits have a 10-year validity period, and final approval must happen in three public meetings post-department's application approval. Failure to do so disqualifies future applications from the city, county, or jurisdiction involved.

The application must detail requested funding, the number of offenders, service types, and specific facility purposes. It must also include past operational experience of the facility operator, any legal violations, and performance metrics on reducing recidivism. Information about permitted facilities in residential settings and services provided, including for those on probation or parole, must be included. Additionally, an agreement to maintain permit validity for ten years and contact person details must be provided.

This section outlines the process for evaluating and funding applications from cities and counties for certain programs. The Department has 90 days to approve or deny applications and decides the amount of funding. Approval is based mostly on criteria in Section 30035.3, but the Department can consider other relevant factors.

The Department encourages applicants to use their own funds to match the program funds. If two or more applications are equally good, preference is given to those offering more matching funds. Once an application is approved and necessary permits are issued, funds are released as directed by the Director of Finance.

This law explains the process for cities, counties, or combined city-counties to receive up to $2 million in funds for certain projects. To qualify, applicants must first have their applications approved. Once funds are awarded, 60% stays with the local government and 40% goes to the facility operators. Areas where the funds can be used include law enforcement services, community outreach, and facility improvements.

Facility operators can use the funds for services to residents, security improvements, communication, and startup costs. The program aims to help offenders released from prison or jail, but others in the community may also benefit. Every year by August 1st, detailed reports on fund use and service outcomes must be submitted by both the local governments and facility operators.

This law requires the department to submit an annual report by November 1st from 2017 to 2020 to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee. The report must include details about the previous fiscal year's applications for program funding, specifically the number received, approved, and denied. It must also list the names of cities or counties that received funds and the number of ex-offenders they supported, as well as those whose applications were denied.

The report must comply with Section 9795, which outlines how reports should be submitted.

This section allows the Office of State Audits and Evaluations to use up to $500,000 from the program's budget to audit its effectiveness in helping ex-offenders. The audit must be completed, and a copy submitted to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by May 1, 2020, in compliance with certain regulations. Furthermore, any cities, counties, or operators receiving funds must agree to cooperate with this audit.

This law states that when the department creates or updates instructions for state or local agencies to fulfill their budget-related duties, these actions are considered part of preparing the state budget. Therefore, they don't have to go through the usual rulemaking process required by the Administrative Procedure Act.