NOTE: For audio of Rep. Cargill on the House GOP Faith-Based Initiative go to: http://www.okhouse.gov//OkhouseMedia/audio.aspx

CONTACT:
Damon Gardenhire, press secretary
Speaker Todd Hiett
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Capitol: (405) 962.7679
gardenhire@okhouse.gov

First Bill in House GOP Faith-Based Initiative Passes Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 14, 2006) – The first measure in the House Republican faith-based initiative passed its first legislative test today.

Authored by Rep. Lance Cargill, House Bill 3037, the Restorative Justice Act of 2006, will establish new incentives for expanded partnerships between prison officials and faith-based & community groups. The bill passed the Corrections and Criminal Justice Committee today, and now goes to the full House for a vote.

“Our state government must reach out to churches and faith communities, enlisting their help,” said Rep. Cargill, Majority Floor Leader, who conducted an interim study and held hearings to develop the HB 3037 plan.
“These groups are in the trenches every day. They know how to help people and change hearts.”

HB 3037 is a key element in a three-part faith-based initiative announced by House GOP leaders last week. Other measures include a charitable tax credit (House Bill 3122, authored by Speaker Todd Hiett and co-authored by Rep. Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa) and an effort to help compulsive gamblers (House Bill 2048, authored by Rep. Thad Balkman, R-Norman)

“Oklahoma’s faith-based programs act as one of our greatest resources in confronting social problems and reaching out to those in need,” said Speaker Hiett (R-Kellyville). “These groups play a vital role in our communities, offering help that government simply can’t provide.”

Cargill said the incentives in HB 3037 would seek to lower repeat offender rates by preparing inmates for life beyond prison walls before they are released. The HB 3037 plan has four main elements:

• Tying recidivism rates to the evaluation of Oklahoma’s prison system.

• Ensuring that corrections facilities recruit and welcome volunteers and establish partnerships with faith-based and community groups to provide services.

• Coordinating re-entry programs to help inmates find jobs, housing, substance abuse treatment, medical care and mental health services.

• Establishing collaboration among private and public sectors to connect inmates to employment opportunities and ser-vices before release.

HB 3037 would also create two seed funds:

* The Reintegration of Inmates Revolving Fund, would provide seed money to volunteer organizations that provide health, vocational and educational training.

* The Restorative Justice Revolving Fund would offer bonuses to corrections officials who demonstrate improvement in recidivism rates for inmates previously under custody of DOC.