FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 345 as passed the Senate reestablishes the Prison PREP Pilot Program for Small Business Development for Ex-Offenders, previously under the Department of Corrections (DOC), that expired on December 31, 2020, under the Board of Pardons and Paroles and the DOC effective July 1, 2021 through December 31, 2026, subject to the availability of funds. This would increase the obligations of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, by an undetermined amount to: 1) establish training locations and funding for participants to receive training on establishment of small businesses; 2) provide assistance in obtaining small business funding; 3) partner with entities to provide mentorship to individuals for three years; and 4) to provide an annual report on the effectiveness of the program to the Legislature and the Legislative Services Agency by the fifth legislative day of each regular session.

For fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2021, DOC was appropriated $100,000 from the State General Fund for the program that expired on December 31, 2020. The House Passed General Fund Budget for fiscal year 2022 currently appropriates $100,000 from the State General Fund to DOC for this program.

This bill could further increase the obligations of J. F. Ingram State Community College, paid from the Education Trust Fund, by an undetermined amount, to provide training in small business development to inmates exiting the correctional system.