Requires state use actual residences of persons in government custody for redistricting purposes. Information would be collected by the department of corrections and forwarded to the secretary of state to be utilized for redistricting.
If enacted, H7070 would directly affect the way population data is utilized in the redistricting process, impacting state house and senate districts as well as local government districts. The bill establishes a structured mechanism for collecting demographic data from individuals entering government custody, enabling the Secretary of State to prepare redistricting data that accurately reflects these individuals' residential addresses. This could significantly alter the political landscape, particularly in areas with high incarceration rates, by ensuring that communities are represented more equitably based on their actual populations.
House Bill 7070, referred to as the 'Residence of Individuals in Government Custody Act', proposes to ensure that individuals in government custody are counted at their legal residence rather than at the facility where they are incarcerated for the purposes of redistricting. This change aims to address the discrepancies noted in census counts, which often classify incarcerated persons as residents of their correctional facilities. By mandating that the Department of Corrections collects and forwards residential data, the bill seeks to improve the accuracy of population counts for legislative districts in the state.
Debate surrounding H7070 may center on issues of representation and the integrity of the electoral process. Supporters may argue that the bill enhances democratic representation by ensuring that every individual, regardless of their incarceration status, contributes to the population count based on their home address. However, critics could raise concerns about the confidentiality of the data collected, as well as the logistical challenges of accurately documenting these residences. Moreover, there is an ongoing discussion about how accurately this bill can reflect the true demographics of affected communities, especially given that incarcerated individuals often belong to disproportionately marginalized populations.