[§353H-3]  Offender reentry system plan;creation.  (a)  The department of public safety shall develop acomprehensive and effective offender reentry system plan for adult offendersexiting the prison system. 

(b)  The department of public safety shall developcomprehensive reentry plans and curricula for individuals exiting correctionalfacilities in order to reduce recidivism and increase a person's successfulreentry into the community.  The reentry plans shall include, but not belimited to:

(1)  Adopting an operational philosophy that considersthat offender reentry begins on the day an offender enters the correctionalsystem.  Each offender entering the system shall be assessed to determine theoffender's needs in order to assist the individual offender with developing theskills necessary to be successful in the community;

(2)  Providing appropriate programs, including, butnot limited to, education, substance abuse treatment, cognitive skillsdevelopment, vocational and employment training, and other programs that helpto meet the assessed needs of each individual;

(3)  Developing a comprehensive network oftransitional programs to address the needs of individuals exiting thecorrectional system;

(4)  Ensuring that all reentry programs are gender-responsive;

(5)  Issuing requests for proposals fromcommunity-based nonprofit programs with experience with offenders in the areaof reentry; and

(6)  Instituting model reentry programs for adultoffenders. [L Sp 2007, c 8, pt of §2]