The Senate Appropriations Committee heard HB 1304 on various criminal law issues sponsored Sen. Steele and Sen. R. Michael Young. The committee adopted three amendments. Two of the amendments made language changes and technical corrections. The third amendment, introduced by Sen. Kenley, excludes certain offenders from treatment in lieu of prosecution or incarceration and removes … [Read more...] about Various criminal law issues
sentencing
Sentence modification
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 174, Sen. R. Michael Young’s bill on sentence modification sponsored by Rep. Frizzell. Sen. Young presented an amendment to the bill which the Committee adopted by consent. As amended, the bill would (1) allow persons sentenced for nonviolent crimes committed before July 1, 2014 to petition for sentence modifications without any … [Read more...] about Sentence modification
Serious sex offenders
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 522, deterring serious sex offenders from entering school grounds. Sen. Mrvan explained that the bill defines “serious sex offenders” and makes it a Level 6 felony for a serious sex offender to enter school property. The bill allows these offenders to vote by mail. The Committee expressed concern about the bill’s creation of a ne … [Read more...] about Serious sex offenders
Criminal justice funding
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard HB 1006 on criminal justice funding sponsored by Sen. Steele and Sen. Young. Author Rep. Steuerwald explained that the bill reduces the deadline for submitting a collaboration plan between the probation department and the community corrections program in each county for the provision of community supervision for adult offenders from July 1, 2017 … [Read more...] about Criminal justice funding
DOC specialized vocational program
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 173 concerning the Department of Correction specialized vocational program. Sponsor Rep. Washburne explained that this bill permits the Department of Correction to establish a specialized vocational program to train minimum security inmates in trades such as truck driving, manufacturing, plumbing, construction, and heating, … [Read more...] about DOC specialized vocational program