Bill Text: MS HB1261 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Inmate Early Release Task Force; establish.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [HB1261 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-HB1261-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Corrections
By: Representative Bailey
House Bill 1261
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE INMATE EARLY RELEASE TASK FORCE; TO PROVIDE THE COMPOSITION OF THE TASK FORCE; TO PRESCRIBE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO SUBMIT A CERTAIN ANNUAL REPORT CONCERNING SENTENCING GUIDELINES FOR A CERTAIN CRIME COMMITTED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby established a committee to be known as the Inmate Early Release Task Force, hereinafter called the Early Release Task Force, which must exercise the powers and fulfill the duties described in this section.
(2) The Early Release Task Force shall be composed of the following members:
(a) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two (2) members;
(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two (2) members;
(c) The Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, or his designee;
(d) The Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court shall appoint one (1) member of the circuit court;
(e) The Governor shall appoint one (1) member from the Parole Board;
(f) The Director of the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, or his designee;
(g) The Attorney General shall appoint one (1) member representing the victims' community;
(h) The Mississippi
Association of Supervisors shall appoint one (1) member to represent the association;
(i) The President of the Mississippi Prosecutors' Association;
(j) The President of the Mississippi Sheriffs' Association, or his designee; and
(k) The Office of the State Public Defender shall appoint one (1) member to represent the public defender's office.
(3) The task force shall meet on or before December 31, 2020, at the call of the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections and organize itself by electing one (1) of its members as chair and such other officers as the task force may consider necessary. Thereafter, the task force shall meet at least biannually and at the call of the chair or by a majority of the members. A quorum consists of seven (7) members.
(4) The task force shall have the following powers and duties:
(a) Review all convictions of murder that occurred from and after July 1, 2000, for those first time offenders who committed the crime while aged 25 or younger, to determine if the murder conviction took into consideration mitigating circumstances such as the age of the offender and whether the inmate was a first time offender;
(b) Prepare and submit an annual report no later than the first day of the second full week of each regular session of the Legislature on the outcome and performance measures to the Legislature, Governor and Chief Justice. The report shall include recommendations for improvements in sentencing for murder convictions committed by first time offenders who were age 25 years of age or younger when convicted;
(e) Develop a research and analysis system to determine the feasibility, impact on resources, and budget consequences of any proposed or existing legislation affecting sentence length for those convicted of murder while age 25 years of age or younger and while being a first time offender;
(f) To undertake such additional studies or evaluations as the Oversight Task Force considers necessary to provide sentencing reform for those convicted of murder while aged 25 or younger while being a first time offender;
(g) Prepare and conduct annual continuing legal education seminars regarding the sentencing guidelines for first time offenders who committed the crime while aged 25 or younger to be presented to judges, prosecuting attorneys and their deputies, and public defenders and their deputies, as so required;
(h) The Early Release Task Force shall use clerical and professional employees of the Department of Corrections for its staff;
(i) The Early Release Task Force may employ or retain other professional staff, upon the determination of the necessity for other staff; and
(k) The Early Release Task Force is encouraged to apply for and may expend grants, gifts, or federal funds it receives from other sources to carry out its duties and responsibilities.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.
