SB237 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Corrections, to provide deduction of a prisoners sentence upon completion of qualifying programs, require DOC to adopt rules for administration of education incentive time, provide for membership, provide for income tax credit for an employer that employs an individual recently released from incarceration, prohibit agencies from considering an applicants criminal conviction history for consideration of a job under certain conditions, Secs. 14-9-100 to 14-9-108, incl., 36-26-150 to 36-26-160, incl., added

Summary

SB237 would reward inmates with sentence reductions for education completion, create rules for education incentive time, offer a tax credit to employers who hire recently released individuals, and restrict how government employers consider criminal history in hiring.

What This Bill Does

It lets eligible inmates earn a deduction to their sentence after completing qualifying academic, vocational, risk-reducing, or apprenticeship programs (up to 12 months per incarceration term). It requires the Department of Corrections to adopt and coordinate rules for administering education incentive time, with a task force to approve those rules. It provides a nonrefundable income tax credit of $1,000 to employers who hire individuals recently released from incarceration (must work at least seven months), and it restricts state and local employers from asking about criminal history until after a conditional job offer, while imposing record-keeping and enforcement requirements.

Who It Affects

• Incarcerated individuals who participate in qualifying programs, as they could receive sentence reductions and influence parole decisions through education incentive time.
• State and local government employers and prospective employees, who would face new hiring rules, record-keeping requirements, and potential tax credits for hiring recently released individuals, along with enforcement and auditing obligations.

Key Provisions

• Education incentive time: eligible programs; maximum 12 months off the sentence per incarceration term; added to other sentence deductions; not available for certain sentences or if programs were completed before incarceration began.
• Rules and task force: Department of Corrections must adopt administration rules; a task force with specified members must approve final rules by a set date and supervise rule authentication.
• Parole impact: education incentive time is reported to the Board of Pardons and Paroles and can affect parole decision timelines and eligibility; participation may influence final release decisions.
• Hiring restrictions and records: employers cannot inquire about or consider conviction history until after a conditional job offer; require confidential handling of background data and annual compliance reporting; and provide enforcement through the State Personnel Department.
• Audit and remedies: the State Personnel Department conducts periodic reviews and annual audits of hiring practices, with remedies for violations and potential court action for noncompliance by political subdivisions.
• Employer tax credit: $1,000 tax credit per eligible new hire released from incarceration for at least seven months; nonrefundable and nontransferable; available for up to four tax years per individual; administered with rules by the Alabama Community College System and the Department of Revenue; effective for 2021 and onward.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Corrections Department