Bill Text: IN SB0090 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Criminal law study committees.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-05-18 - Effective 07/01/2011 [SB0090 Detail]
Download: Indiana-2011-SB0090-Enrolled.html
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AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning the general assembly.
Chapter 32.5. Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee
Sec. 1. The criminal law and sentencing policy study committee is established.
Sec. 2. The committee consists of fourteen (14) members appointed as follows:
(1) Four (4) members of the senate, not more than two (2) of whom may be affiliated with the same political party, appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate.
(2) Four (4) members of the house of representatives, not more than two (2) of whom may be affiliated with the same political party, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(3) The executive director of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana or the executive director's designee.
(4) The executive director of the public defender council of Indiana or the executive director's designee.
(5) One (1) person appointed by the members of the Probation
Officers' Professional Association who:
(A) has experience in administering probation programs;
and
(B) is a member of the Probation Officers' Professional
Association of Indiana.
(6) One (1) circuit or superior court judge who exercises
criminal or juvenile jurisdiction, appointed by the chief
justice of the supreme court.
(7) The commissioner of the department of correction.
(8) The chairman of the parole board.
Sec. 3. The chairman of the legislative council shall appoint a
legislative member of the committee to serve as chair of the
committee. Whenever there is a new chairman of the legislative
council, the new chairman may remove the chair of the committee
and appoint another chair.
Sec. 4. If a legislative member of the committee ceases to be a
member of the chamber from which the member was appointed,
the member also ceases to be a member of the committee.
Sec. 5. A legislative member of the committee may be removed
at any time by the appointing authority who appointed the
legislative member.
Sec. 6. If a vacancy exists on the committee, the appointing
authority who appointed the former member whose position is
vacant shall appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.
Sec. 7. The committee shall submit a final report of the results
of the committee's study to the legislative council before November
1 of even-numbered years. The report must be in an electronic
format under IC 5-14-6.
Sec. 8. The Indiana criminal justice institute shall provide staff
support to the committee to prepare:
(1) minutes of each meeting; and
(2) the final report.
Sec. 9. The legislative services agency shall provide staff support
to the committee to:
(1) advise the committee on legal matters, criminal
procedures, and legal research; and
(2) draft potential legislation.
Sec. 10. Each member of the committee is entitled to receive the
same per diem, mileage, and travel allowances paid to individuals
who serve as legislative and lay members, respectively, of interim
study committees established by the legislative council.
Sec. 11. The affirmative votes of a majority of the members
appointed to the committee are required for the committee to take
action on any measure, including the final report.
Sec. 12. Except as otherwise specifically provided by this
chapter, the committee shall operate under the rules of the
legislative council. All funds necessary to carry out this chapter
shall be paid from appropriations to the legislative council and the
legislative services agency.
Sec. 13. (a) The committee is established to evaluate criminal
laws, sentencing laws, and policies as they relate to:
(1) the purposes of the criminal justice and corrections
systems;
(2) the availability of sentencing options; and
(3) the inmate population in department of correction
facilities.
If, based on the committee's evaluation under this subsection, the
committee determines that changes are necessary or appropriate,
the committee shall make recommendations to the general
assembly for the modification of sentencing laws and policies and
for the addition, deletion, or expansion of sentencing options.
(b) The committee shall do the following:
(1) Conduct a continuing study of the laws relating to:
(A) the investigation of crimes;
(B) the prosecution of crimes;
(C) criminal procedures;
(D) alternative sentencing programs;
(E) the department of correction;
(F) parole;
(G) probation;
(H) community corrections;
(I) home detention programs;
(J) criminal registries;
(K) victim rights;
(L) the classification of criminal offenses into felony and
misdemeanor categories;
(M) sex offenders; and
(N) juvenile offenders.
(2) Study federal requirements or incentives for states to pass
certain laws or establish specific programs.
(3) Determine the long range needs of the criminal justice and
corrections systems and recommend policy priorities for those
systems.
(4) Identify critical problems in the criminal justice and
corrections systems and recommend strategies to solve the
problems.
(5) Assess the cost effectiveness of the use of state and local
funds in the criminal justice and corrections systems.
(6) Propose plans, programs, and legislation for improving the
effectiveness of the criminal justice and corrections systems.
(c) The committee may study other topics assigned by the
legislative council or as directed by the committee chair. The
committee may meet as often as necessary.
(b) The criminal code evaluation commission is established to evaluate the criminal laws of Indiana. If, based on the commission's evaluation, the commission determines that changes are necessary or appropriate, the commission shall make recommendations to the general assembly for the modification of the criminal laws.
(c) The commission may study other topics assigned by the legislative council or as directed by the commission chair.
(d) The commission may meet during the months of:
(2) April, May, June, July, August, September and October of 2012.
(e) The commission consists of seventeen (17) members appointed as follows:
(1) Four (4) members of the senate, not more than two (2) of whom may be affiliated with the same political party, to be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate.
(2) Four (4) members of the house of representatives, not more than two (2) of whom may be affiliated with the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(3) The attorney general or the attorney general's designee.
(4) The commissioner of the department of correction or the commissioner's designee.
(5) The executive director of the prosecuting attorneys council of Indiana or the executive director's designee.
(6) The executive director of the public defender council of
Indiana or the executive director's designee.
(7) The chief justice of the supreme court or the chief justice's
designee.
(8) Two (2) judges who exercise criminal jurisdiction, who may
not be affiliated with the same political party, to be appointed by
the governor.
(9) Two (2) professors employed by a law school in Indiana
whose expertise includes criminal law, to be appointed by the
governor.
(f) The chairman of the legislative council shall appoint a legislative
member of the commission to serve as chair of the commission.
Whenever there is a new chairman of the legislative council, the new
chairman may remove the chair of the commission and appoint another
chair.
(g) If a legislative member of the commission ceases to be a member
of the chamber from which the member was appointed, the member
also ceases to be a member of the commission.
(h) A legislative member of the commission may be removed at any
time by the appointing authority who appointed the legislative member.
(i) If a vacancy exists on the commission, the appointing authority
who appointed the former member whose position is vacant shall
appoint an individual to fill the vacancy.
(j) The commission shall submit a final report of the results of its
study to the legislative council before November 1, 2011. 2012. The
report must be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
(k) The Indiana criminal justice institute shall provide staff support
to the commission to prepare:
(1) minutes of each meeting; and
(2) the final report.
(l) The legislative services agency shall provide staff support to the
commission to:
(1) advise the commission on legal matters, criminal procedures,
and legal research; and
(2) draft potential legislation.
(m) Each member of the commission is entitled to receive the same
per diem, mileage, and travel allowances paid to individuals who serve
as legislative and lay members, respectively, of interim study
committees established by the legislative council.
(n) The affirmative votes of a majority of all the members who serve
on the commission are required for the commission to take action on
any measure, including the final report.
(o) Except as otherwise specifically provided by this SECTION, the
commission shall operate under the rules of the legislative council. All
funds necessary to carry out this SECTION shall be paid from
appropriations to the legislative council and the legislative services
agency.
(p) This SECTION expires December 31, 2011. 2012.
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