Bill Text: AZ SB1277 | 2016 | Fifty-second Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced

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Bill Title: Parole reform study committee

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Referred to Senate JUD Committee [SB1277 Detail]

Download: Arizona-2016-SB1277-Introduced.html

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REFERENCE TITLE: parole reform study committee

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-second Legislature

Second Regular Session

2016

 

 

SB 1277

 

Introduced by

Senators Quezada, Sherwood; Representatives Andrade, Mendez, Velasquez: Espinoza, Fernandez

 

 

AN ACT

 

ESTABLISHING THE parole reform STUDY COMMITTEE.

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Parole reform study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A.  The parole reform study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Two members of the house of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and who are members of different political parties.  

2.  Two members of the senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of different political parties.  

3.  The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.

4.  The executive director of the board of executive clemency or the director's designee.

5.  One member who is an employee of the state department of corrections, who has experience in time computation and who is appointed by the director of the state department of corrections.

6.  One prosecutor who is appointed by the governor.

7.  One attorney who is in private practice, who primarily handles criminal defense and who is appointed by the governor.

8.  One public defender who is appointed by the governor.

9.  One parole officer who is appointed by the governor.

10.  One member who represents an entity that provides recently released prisoners with transition services and who is appointed by the governor.

11.  One retired superior court judge who is appointed by the governor.

12.  One faculty member from Arizona state university, the university of Arizona or northern Arizona university who has expertise in law, criminology, sociology or another relevant field and who is appointed by the governor.

13.  One member who represents a prisoner advocacy group and who is appointed by the governor.

B.  The members of the committee shall select a chairperson from among the members. 

C.  A majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum.

D.  The committee shall research and report on all matters related to parole, including the impact of truth in sentencing laws on sentences that were imposed on or after January 1, 1994, the number of sentenced inmates who are eligible for release on parole at some point in time and the process that is available to release a prisoner who is eligible for parole. 

E.  The committee may:

1.  Request information, data and reports from any state agency or political subdivision of this state.  If possible, information shall be provided electronically.

2.  Hold hearings, conduct fact-finding tours and take testimony from witnesses, including participants in the criminal justice system, who may assist the committee in fulfilling its responsibilities.

F.  On the request of the committee, an agency of this state shall provide to the committee its services, equipment, documents, personnel and facilities to the extent possible without cost to the committee.

G.  The legislature shall provide staff and support services to the committee.

H.  The committee shall meet at the state capitol or at other places as the chairperson deems necessary or convenient, and all meetings shall be open to the public. 

I.  Members of the committee are not eligible to receive compensation but are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

J.  On or before June 30, 2017, the committee shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate and provide a copy of its report to the secretary of state.  The report shall include the committee's recommendations regarding parole reform.

K.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2017.