HCSHB2597--POSTCONVICTION TREATMENTPROGRAMS
SPONSOR: Shields
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonCorrectionsandPublicInstitutionsbyavoteof8to
0.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
2597.
ThisbillrepealstheexistingMissouriPostconviction Drug
TreatmentProgram,butauthorizestheMissouriDepartmentof
Correctionstodetermineifoffendersshouldbeeligibleforeither
astructuredcognitivebehavioralinterventionprogramoran
institutionaltreatmentprogram. Theseprogramslast120daysand
uponsuccessfulcompletion,anoffendermaybereleasedtocontinue
toserveprobation. Termsofprobationarenotmodifiedbythe
bill.
IftheDepartmentdeterminesthatanoffenderhasnotcompleteda
program,thenitprovidesnoticetotheprosecutingattorneyand
sentencingcourtwhichhave10daystoissueawarrantorarrange
forfurthercourtproceedingsbeforereleaseofanoffender. The
sentencingcourtmaymodify,enlarge,orrevokeprobationbasedon
failuretocompleteaprogram.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthestateshoulduseevidenceto
choosetheappropriate120dayprogramforindividualoffendersand
theDepartmentofCorrectionsisexcellentatsuchevaluations.
Itisimportantthatlowleveloffendersreceivecognitivetherapy
ordrugtreatmentasappropriate. Programsreducerecidivismand
prosecutorsandcourtsareprovidedwithnoticewhereaprogramis
notsuccessfullycompletedbyanoffender.
TestifyingforthebillwereRepresentative Shields;ArnieC.Ac
Dienoff;DepartmentofCorrections;andEricZahnd,PlatteCounty
MissouriAssociationofProsecutingAttorneys.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsayithasbeenmodifiedto
preservejudicialdiscretion. TestifyingonthebillwastheMissouriCircuitJudgesAssociation.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.