An act relating to the creation of an earned allowance program and other workforce development for justice-involved individuals

This bill creates an earned allowance program for incarcerated individuals in Vermont's correctional facilities, allowing them to earn money through compliant behavior and participation in programs to cover educational costs, medication, housing, and work-related expenses. The program uses a contingency management approach that rewards positive behavior rather than punishing rule violations, with allowances calculated based on successful drug screenings and months without disciplinary infractions. It also expands workforce development opportunities by enabling partnerships with nonprofit and for-profit businesses to provide vocational training in Vermont's most needed industries such as healthcare, construction, and agriculture. The Department of Corrections must establish rules for the program by September 2025, with implementation beginning January 1, 2026.