A House committee approved two bills Wednesday creating new ways to deal with criminal offenders.

The Judiciary Committee voted 14-12 on a party-line vote for an amended House Bill 1671 giving judges the option of ordering restorative justice as a pre-trial option provided prosecutors, the victim, the offender, defense attorneys and the judge agree to it.

Democrats supported and Republicans opposed HB1671 sponsored by state Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia.

Restorative justice is defined in HB1671 as where an offender participates in a structured process with a victim and others to repair harm he or she caused, address trauma and agree on a restitution plan.

Committee Majority Chair Tim Briggs, D-Montgomery, said restorative justice is designed to give judges a tool to address low-level crimes in courts overwhelmed with cases.

Committee Minority Chair Rob Kauffman, R-Franklin, said the bill would replace the current justice model for crimes with a therapy model.

He offered a scenario under the bill where a child abuse victim would meet with a perpetrator.

Prison jobs

The panel voted 14-12 along party lines for House Bill 2154 sponsored by Briggs to expand work opportunities for offenders.

Democrats supported the bill, while Republicans opposed it.

HB2154 establishes the Prion Industry Enhancement Authority to oversee joint work ventures between correctional facilities and private industry.

The goal would be to provide inmates who volunteer with jobs outside prison walls that provide a living wage.

The state Corrections Department would apply to the U.S. Department of Justice for certification to start these ventures.

Current prison jobs offer inmates low wages that aren’t enough to make restorative payments to their victims, said Briggs.

“This program is designed to place prisoners in a realistic work environment, pay them the local wage for similar work and enable them to acquire marketable skills to increase their potential for successful rehabilitation and meaningful employment upon release,” wrote Briggs in a memo.

Brigg said he anticipates a floor amendment being offered to make HB2154 better. Kauffman said he hopes the amendment produces a bill that can get bipartisan support on a floor vote.