FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Jaret Gibbons D-Lawrence/Beaver/Butler www.pahouse.com/Gibbons

House passes Gibbons halfway house bill

Gives residents more input

HARRISBURG, Dec. 17 – Inspired by a situation in Wayne Township, Lawrence County, the House this week passed a bill authored by state Rep. Jaret Gibbons that would give greater voice to residents before a private company could open a halfway house in their community.

Gibbons' bill, which passed unanimously, would require the company seeking to establish a privately operated community corrections facility to hold a public hearing in the community and include the comments when submitting a bid to the Department of Corrections. Halfway house facilities manage the transition back into society for inmates who have been paroled or are about to be paroled.

"A halfway house nearly opened in Wayne Township, Lawrence County last year without local officials being told of the plan," Gibbons said. "We must make sure that never happens again. My legislation would make local communities aware that if a halfway house is being planned then residents would have the opportunity to ask questions at a public hearing and express their opinion.

"I believe that we must continue to reform how the state does business and the situation in Wayne Township is a perfect example. The unanimous vote in the House demonstrates strong support for the bill and I urge the Senate to quickly pass my bill so all communities throughout the state will not be surprised by this type of facility."

Gibbons said his legislation, H.B. 1281, would not apply to facilities operated by the Department of Corrections itself.

The bill would also require the company to notify the public about when a hearing would be held, including the topic, location and time of the public hearing and a contact for people to call for additional information.

Under current state law, corrections facilities operated privately through a contract with the state can house offenders with addiction problems that can include a period of incarceration, institutional and community-based therapeutic treatment, and treatment in an outpatient addiction treatment facility. The department can also provide a period of supervised community reintegration. Inmates receiving outpatient therapeutic services from the department reside in community corrections centers located throughout the Commonwealth.

Gibbons represents the 10^th Legislative District, which includes portions of Lawrence, Butler and Beaver counties.

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