Bill Text: MS SB2583 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mississippi Justice Reinvestment Act; enact.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2022-02-01 - Died In Committee [SB2583 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2022-SB2583-Introduced.html

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MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2022 Regular Session

To: Corrections; Appropriations

By: Senator(s) Barnett

Senate Bill 2583

AN ACT TO ENACT THE "MISSISSIPPI JUSTICE REINVESTMENT ACT"; TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI JUSTICE REINVESTMENT FUND TO INCENTIVIZE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO ASSIST FORMER INMATES IN THEIR RETURN TO THE GENERAL POPULATION, TO REDUCE THE RECIDIVISM RATES OF INMATES, TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO REDUCE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS PRESENTLY CREATED BY PRISON-RELATED COSTS; TO CREATE THE JUSTICE REINVESTMENT STEERING COMMITTEE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE COMMITTEE TO APPROVE OR DENY REQUESTS FOR DISBURSEMENTS FROM THE JUSTICE REINVESTMENT FUNDS; TO PROVIDE FOR APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMITTEE; TO REQUIRE THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION TO CALL THE FIRST MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Mississippi Justice Reinvestment Act."

     (2)  (a)  There is created in the State Treasury a special fund to be known as the Mississippi Justice Reinvestment Fund.  The purpose of the fund is to incentivize effective strategies to assist former inmates in their return to the general population, to reduce the recidivism rates of inmates, to increase public safety, and to reduce budgetary constraints presently created by prison-related costs.

          (b)  The fund shall be administered by the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration which is authorized to employ a fund coordinator.  The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal-year limitations.  The fund shall consist of funds appropriated by the Legislature; interest accruing to the fund; monies received from the federal government; and donations and any monies received from any other sources.  Fund disbursements shall be made on recommendation of the Justice Reinvestment Steering Committee by March 15 of each calendar year.

     (3)  (a)  There is created the Justice Reinvestment Steering Committee within the Department of Finance and Administration.

          (b)  The committee shall have the following duties:

               (i)  To develop a statewide approach to assist re-entry of formerly incarcerated people into the general population of this state;

               (ii)  To provide recommendations regarding evidence-based approaches that equip inmates with the requisite, individualized resources to promote their successful return to the general population of this state;

               (iii)  To review reports, studies, and materials as it deems appropriate;

               (iv)  To approve or deny requests for funds from the Justice Reinvestment Fund by March 1 of each calendar year, pursuant to applications received by February 1 of each calendar year; and

               (v)  To seek and receive grants to be deposited in the Reinvestment Fund.

     (3)  The committee shall be composed of the following members:

          (a)  The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration, or a designee;

          (b)  The Commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Corrections, or a designee;

          (c)  The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi, or a designee;

          (d)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, or a designee;

          (e)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Home Corporation, or a designee;

          (f)  The Director of the Department of Rehabilitative Services, or a designee;

          (g)  The Director of the Department of Human Services, or a designee;

          (h)  The Executive Director for the Mississippi Division of Medicaid, or a designee;

          (i)  The Chairman of the Parole Board, or a designee;

          (j)  The Director of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, or a designee;

          (k)  A person who was formerly incarcerated, selected by the State Public Defender, on recommendations from organizations working in the area of reentry assistance;

          (l)  The President of the Mississippi Economic Council, or a designee.

     (4)  The Director of the Department of Finance and Administration shall call the first meeting of the committee.  At its first meeting, the Steering Committee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from its membership and adopt rules for transacting its business and keeping records, including the establishment of subcommittees.  Officers shall serve a one-year term or until such time as a successor is appointed.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2022.