1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to corrections; appropriating money for 
  1.3             grants for the probation caseload reduction program. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [CORRECTION APPROPRIATION.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONS.] $....... is 
  1.7   appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of 
  1.8   corrections for increased grants to counties that deliver 
  1.9   correctional services.  The appropriation is available until 
  1.10  June 30, 1999. 
  1.11     Subd. 2.  [PROBATION OFFICER CASELOAD REDUCTION.] The money 
  1.12  appropriated under subdivision 1 is intended to reduce state and 
  1.13  county probation officer caseload and workload overcrowding and 
  1.14  to increase supervision of individuals sentenced to probation at 
  1.15  the county level.  This increased supervision may be 
  1.16  accomplished through a variety of methods, including, but not 
  1.17  limited to: 
  1.18     (1) innovative technology services, such as automated 
  1.19  probation reporting systems and electronic monitoring; 
  1.20     (2) prevention and diversion programs; 
  1.21     (3) intergovernmental cooperation agreements between local 
  1.22  governments and appropriate community resources; and 
  1.23     (4) traditional probation program services. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [APPROPRIATION ADDED TO BASE LEVEL 1997.] The 
  2.1   funds appropriated in subdivision 1 shall be added to the base 
  2.2   level appropriated under Laws 1997, chapter 239, article 1, 
  2.3   section 12, subdivision 4, for probation officer workload 
  2.4   reduction. 
  2.5      Subd. 4.  [COUNTY REIMBURSEMENT.] Counties that deliver 
  2.6   correctional services under Minnesota Statutes, section 244.19, 
  2.7   and that qualify for new probation officers under this program 
  2.8   shall receive full reimbursement for the officers' benefits and 
  2.9   support not to exceed $70,000 annually.  Positions funded by 
  2.10  this appropriation may not supplant existing services. 
  2.11     Subd. 5.  [DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS.] The commissioner shall 
  2.12  distribute money appropriated for state and county probation 
  2.13  officer caseload and workload reduction under subdivision 1, 
  2.14  according to the formula contained in Minnesota Statutes, 
  2.15  section 410.10.  These appropriations may not be used to 
  2.16  supplant existing state or county probation officer positions or 
  2.17  existing correctional services or programs. 
  2.18     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.19     This appropriation is available the day after final 
  2.20  enactment.