HB 2775

Abstract

Amends the Department of Human Services Act. Requires the Department of Human Services to establish and administer an Inform House Grant Program to provide grants to community-based organizations that provide rehabilitative and educational services to youth involved in the criminal justice system and that have the accommodations to provide the following residential and academic services: (1) single occupancy rooms that are equipped with a private bathroom, bed, dresser, closet, window, and door without a lock; (2) a weekly meal plan consisting of 3 nutritionally balanced meals a day with a plant-based option; and (3) on-site educational programs and tutoring to assist youth in meeting the State criteria for high school graduation or for earning a high school equivalency certificate. Provides that the educational programs must include aptitude assessments to determine a youth's academic competency levels with follow-up course work that is tailored to the youth's specific academic needs. Requires the educational programs to also sufficiently prepare youth for postsecondary education by providing high-quality instruction in the following subject areas: (i) reading comprehension; (ii) writing and composition; (iii) mathematics; and (iv) any other subject areas to help youth eliminate any educational gaps or deficiencies. Permits the Department to award up to $5,000,000 in grant money to qualifying community-based organizations and to adopt any rules necessary to implement the program.