A Shelby County Republican, is teaming up with the Kentucky Community and Technical College System in hopes of creating a prison education system.

The lawmaker says if more inmates can receive job training, they'll be less likely to re-offend.

And it can also help out Kentucky's workforce.

Our Emily Sisk explains the details of House Bill five.

It saves Kentucky money, it prevents crime, and it fills jobs and workforce needs.

Kentucky Community and Technical College System President Ryan Coral's laid out the bottom line of House Bill five, which would establish a prison education system in partnership with CTCs and the state Department of Corrections.

Selected inmates could receive job training and certification while serving out their sentence.

HB five is not a soft on crime initiative.

It does not shorten sentences or reduce accountability.

Bill sponsor Representative Jennifer Decker says the bill is about reducing the number of inmates who re-offend after their release.

Kentucky currently has about 12,000 state prisoners.

Data shows that 95% of those inmates will be released.

They're going to be our neighbors.

So you got to ask your you're asking a question, who do you want to be, your neighbor?

Do you want someone who's had opportunity to benefit, from our programing and get a job?

CTCs will offer training in areas like advanced manufacturing, welding, carpentry and more.

Inmates who are chosen to participate will be moved to a facility at Northpoint Training Center in Boyle County, which is in central Kentucky.

What they will do in this program will mimic the workday once they are released.

The CTCs president said they've already identified more than 300 a second chance employers who would be willing to hire former inmates.

Those employers could conduct job interviews prior to a prisoner's release.

HB five received bipartisan support from lawmakers in the House Judiciary Committee.

Now, if an ex-con is going to come to my house, I hope it's with my permission and it's to fix my Hvac or build a cabinet.

So I love this bill.

I love this idea.

While HB five doesn't include any appropriations request, it's estimated the new facility would cost $42 million.

The legislation passed out of committee with a vote of 19 to 1.

It now heads to the House floor for consideration there.

For Kentucky edition, I'm Emily Sisk.

Thank you, Emily President Coral said if the legislation is successful, he hopes to kick off the prison campus program next fall.