Bill > SB537

This bill establishes the "Earning Safe Reentry Through Work Act", which creates a sentence credit program for individuals on probation, parole, or post-release supervision. Under this act, supervised offenders can earn work-for-time credits by maintaining eligible employment, which means working at least 130 hours in a 30-day period and providing verifiable documentation to their community supervision officer. Offenders can earn five work-for-time credits (each representing a one-day sentence reduction) for every 30-day period of continuous eligible employment, with the exception of the 60 days immediately preceding their sentence end date. However, these credits can be forfeited if the offender's probation or parole is revoked, if they are convicted of a new criminal offense, or if they provide fraudulent employment documents. The community supervision officer must verify the employment, record the credits, and notify the sentencing court about the credits at least 60 days before the adjusted sentence end date. The bill includes an emergency clause, emphasizing its purpose of reducing recidivism and improving public safety, and is set to become effective upon gubernatorial approval or other specified conditions.