1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to public safety; establishing a short-term offender advisory task force; 
1.3 	requiring a report that includes task force recommendations on short-term 
1.4 	offender program and reimbursing counties.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. SHORT-TERM OFFENDER ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
 1.7 	(a) An advisory task force is established to evaluate the use and effectiveness 
1.8 	of the short-term offender program and identify gaps in the current system relating to 
1.9 	jail programming and reentry. The task force shall recommend appropriate levels of 
1.10 	reimbursement to counties for housing short-term offenders in county and regional jails, 
1.11 	and propose alternatives to the current system including, but not limited to, a regional 
1.12 	jail structure.
1.13 	(b) The commissioner of corrections shall cochair the committee with a designee 
1.14 	of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association and convene the first meeting of the advisory task 
1.15 	force that is composed of the following representatives: three members to represent 
1.16 	the Department of Corrections' institutions division, community services division, and 
1.17 	offender reception center appointed by the commissioner; two sheriffs who operate jails 
1.18 	that house short-term offenders appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association; two 
1.19 	county administrators and two county board members appointed by the Association of 
1.20 	Minnesota Counties; two county attorneys appointed by the Minnesota County Attorneys 
1.21 	Association; two public defenders appointed by the State Board of Public Defense; and 
1.22 	two probation officers jointly appointed by the Minnesota Corrections Association and 
1.23 	the Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act counties, one of whom must 
1.24 	be from a Community Corrections Act county. The associations must seek geographical 
2.1 	diversity among task force members so that both metropolitan and out-state interests 
2.2 	are represented. Task force members may not receive compensation but may receive 
2.3 	reimbursement for expenses related to serving on the task force. Except as provided in this 
2.4 	section, task force members' terms and other task force matters are subject to Minnesota 
2.5 	Statutes, section 15.059.
2.6 	(c) The task force must submit by January 15, 2009, a written report to the chairs of 
2.7 	the public safety finance and policy committees in the house of representatives and senate 
2.8 	that includes the task force recommendations for managing and reforming the short-term 
2.9 	offender program and reimbursing counties for housing short-term offenders.
2.10 	(d) Upon request, the commissioner of corrections must provide the task force 
2.11 	with technical and other support services. The commissioner must use funds from the 
2.12 	department's current operating budget to cover any costs the commissioner incurs in 
2.13 	providing services to the task force.
2.14 	(e) The task force expires on June 30, 2009.

2.15 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective the day following final enactment.