HB2397--GOODTIMECREDIT
SPONSOR: Aldridge
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
CorrectionsandPublicInstitutionsbyavoteof10to0.
Currently,certainoffenderscommittedtotheDepartmentof
Correctionsmayreceiveadditionalcredituponrecommendation by
theoffender'sinstitutionalsuperintendent whentheoffendermeets
certainrequirementsspecifiedinstatute.Thisbillspecifies
thatsuchoffendersshallinsteadreceiveadditionalcredit,
accordingtotheprovisionsspecifiedinthebill,iftheoffender
meetsthecertainrequirements,anditremovestherequirementthat
theinstitutionalsuperintendent recommendssuchcredit.Credits
fromprioryearsarenotlostformajorviolationsandcreditsmay
berestoredasamatteroftheDepartment'spolicy.
Thebillalsorevisestherequirementsrelatingtothepolicyfor
awardingcredit,anditrequirestheDepartmentofCorrectionsto
adoptrulesspecifyingprogramsoractivitiesforwhichcreditmay
beearnedaswellascreatingcriteriarelatingtoparticipationin
andcompletionofsuchprogramsoractivities.
Theaccumulatedcreditofeveryoffendershallbetalliedmonthly
andmaintainedbytheinstitutionwherethetermofimprisonmentis
beingserved.Arecordofsuchaccumulatedcreditshallbesentto
therecordsofficeoftheDepartmentonaquarterlybasis,
forwardedtotheDivisionofProbationandParole,andprovidedto
theoffender.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthebillisasmallexpansionof
existingprogramsthatwillhelpwithoffendereducationandmental
health.Thebillwillensureauniformpolicyregardingincentives
thatisfairforoffendersindifferentinstitutions. Theawardor
restorationofcreditswillremainbasedonfollowingproper
proceduresforearlyrelease.
TestifyingforthebillwereRepresentative Aldridge;ElyseMax;
RoriPickerNeiss,JewishCommunityRelationsCouncil;NAACP
MissouriStateConference.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillprovidedwrittentestimony.
TestifyingagainstthebillwasArnieC.AcDienoff.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsaythefiscalnote
reflectsthepossibilityofinformationtechnologycostsinvolving
implementingatrackingsystemforcredits. TheDepartmentis committedtoefficientimplementation oflegislativepolicy.
TestifyingonthebillwasAdamAlbach,DepartmentofCorrections.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.