SF 556

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; providing funding to counties for housing short-term
felony offenders; creating a short-term offender advisory task force; appropriating
money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 241.

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

Section 1.

new text begin [241.2715] REIMBURSEMENT OF COUNTIES FOR SHORT-TERM
OFFENDERS.
new text end

new text begin For each inmate serving a felony sentence in a county or regional jail pursuant to
section 609.105, the commissioner of corrections must pay the county housing the inmate
no less than $55 per day of incarceration.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin ONETIME REIMBURSEMENT PAYMENTS TO COUNTIES FOR
HOUSING SHORT-TERM OFFENDERS.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner of corrections must reimburse counties at a rate of $55 per
day of incarceration for felons serving or having served short-term sentences in county
or regional jails pursuant to section 609.105 since July 1, 2003. The commissioner
shall reduce the reimbursement payments under this section by the actual amount the
commissioner previously paid counties housing short-term felon offenders.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007.
new text end

Sec. 3. 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 to recommend appropriate levels of reimbursement to
counties for housing short-term offenders in county and regional jails.
new text end

new text begin (b) The commissioner of corrections shall appoint and convene the first meeting of
the advisory task force that is composed of the following representatives: two sheriffs who
operate jails that house short-term offenders; two county administrators; two county board
members; two county attorneys; two public defenders; and two probation officers, one
of whom must be from a Community Corrections Act county. The commissioner 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 membersa?? 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 committees in the house and senate that includes the task forcea??s
recommendations for managing and reforming the short-term offender program and for
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
departmenta??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

Sec. 4. new text begin APPROPRIATIONS.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2008 from the general fund to the commissioner
of corrections to fund county reimbursement payments required under section 2. This is
a onetime appropriation.
new text end

new text begin $....... is appropriated in fiscal year 2008 and $....... is appropriated in fiscal
year 2009 from the general fund to the commissioner of corrections to fund county
reimbursement grants mandated under Minnesota Statutes, section 241.2715. This amount
shall be added to the Department of Correctionsa?? base funding.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2007.
new text end