HF 492

1st Engrossment - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing a short-term offender advisory task force;
requiring a report that includes task force recommendations on short-term
offender program and reimbursing counties.

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

Section 1. new text begin SHORT-TERM OFFENDER ADVISORY TASK FORCE.
new text end

new text begin (a) An advisory task force is established to evaluate the use and effectiveness
of the short-term offender program and identify gaps in the current system relating to
jail programming and reentry. The task force shall recommend appropriate levels of
reimbursement to counties for housing short-term offenders in county and regional jails,
and propose alternatives to the current system including, but not limited to, a regional
jail structure.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of corrections shall cochair the committee with a designee
of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association and convene the first meeting of the advisory task
force that is composed of the following representatives: three members to represent
the Department of Corrections' institutions division, community services division, and
offender reception center appointed by the commissioner; two sheriffs who operate jails
that house short-term offenders appointed by the Minnesota Sheriffs Association; two
county administrators and two county board members appointed by the Association of
Minnesota Counties; two county attorneys appointed by the Minnesota County Attorneys
Association; two public defenders appointed by the State Board of Public Defense; and
two probation officers jointly appointed by the Minnesota Corrections Association and
the Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act counties, one of whom must
be from a Community Corrections Act county. The associations must seek geographical
diversity among task force members so that both metropolitan and out-state interests
are represented. Task force members may not receive compensation but may receive
reimbursement for expenses related to serving on the task force. Except as provided in this
section, task force members' terms and other task force matters are subject to Minnesota
Statutes, section 15.059.
new text end

new text begin (c) The task force must submit by January 15, 2009, a written report to the chairs of
the public safety finance and policy committees in the house of representatives and senate
that includes the task force recommendations for managing and reforming the short-term
offender program and reimbursing counties for housing short-term offenders.
new text end

new text begin (d) Upon request, the commissioner of corrections must provide the task force
with technical and other support services. The commissioner must use funds from the
department's current operating budget to cover any costs the commissioner incurs in
providing services to the task force.
new text end

new text begin (e) The task force expires on June 30, 2009.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end