A. The Department of Corrections shall implement pilot projects for establishment and continued operation of local community sentencing systems in the following local community sentencing systems:
- 1. One system for a county possessing a population of over two hundred thousand (200,000) according to the latest federal Decennial Census.
- 2. Two systems which have three or more counties participating; and
3. Not fewer than two systems which have single county participation in a rural area.
Each fiscal year the Division, in collaboration with the local planning councils, shall provide goals and funding priorities for community punishments as provided by law. The statewide community sentencing system shall be composed of local community sentencing system plans as approved by the Division. The Division shall promulgate rules for local community sentencing systems based upon objective criteria for allocation of state appropriated funds to local systems for day-to-day operation during a fiscal year which may include identification of:
- 1. Fiscally responsible allocations of services and funds;
- 2. Innovative or effective programs of the local system; and
3. Appropriate targeting of offenders for services.
The Division and each of the local community sentencing systems are required to operate within the appropriated funds. The state shall require each local community sentencing system to identify resources other than state funds as part of the funding formula. The Division shall establish procedures for disbursement of state funds to service providers, and shall disburse state funds in a timely manner.
B. For a local community sentencing pilot project to remain eligible for state funding, a local community sentencing system shall:
- 1. Demonstrate fiscal responsibility by operating the local system within the plan and budget allocation;
- 2. Require performance-based selection of service providers participating in the annual system plan;
- 3. Submit a plan which offers a continuum of sanctions for eligible offenders sentences to the local community sentencing system and appropriately assign offenders for services; and
- 4. Comply with the rules promulgated by the Community Sentencing Division within the Department of Corrections and the provisions of the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act.
- C. The Community Sentencing Division within the Department of Corrections shall review and evaluate all community sentencing system plans and budget requests when plans are submitted for approval and funding. The Division is directed to automatically approve all plans complying with the provisions of the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Act which require no state funding.
- D. When state funding is required to implement a local community sentencing system plan, the Community Sentencing Division shall approve the plan only to the extent that the jurisdiction's share of the total state appropriations will support the implementation of the local system plan. Modifications to a local plan shall be for budgetary purposes, as provided in Section 7 of this act, and for compliance with law and rule.
- E. State funds from the Community Sentencing Division disbursed to community sentencing systems shall be used for operation and administrative expenses and shall not be used to construct, renovate, remodel, expand or improve any jail, residential treatment facility, restrictive housing facility, or any other structure, nor shall these funds be used to replace funding or other resources from the federal, state, county, or city government committed in support of the detailed system plan during the plan year.
- F. Any funds accruing to the benefit of a community sentencing system shall be deposited in the Oklahoma Community Sentencing Revolving Fund created as provided in Section 557.1 of Title 57 of the Oklahoma Statutes, and shall be credited to the local jurisdiction making such deposit. The Community Sentencing Division within the Department of Corrections and every local planning council are authorized to apply for and accept grants, gifts, bequests and other lawful money from nonprofit private organizations, for-profit organizations, political subdivisions of this state, the United States, and private citizens to support or expand the community sentencing system.
- G. Requests for capital expenditures in support of the local community sentencing system shall be made as provided by the rules promulgated by the Community Sentencing Division within the Department of Corrections.
- H. For purposes of calculating state funding for local community sentencing systems, supervision, treatment, and education shall be the first funding priorities.
Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1008, c. 4, § 16, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999.