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Minutes for SB416 - Committee on Judiciary
Short Title
Requiring earlier notice of anticipated release from custody of a person who may be a sexually violent predator to the attorney general and a multidisciplinary team and specifying where such person will be detained during civil commitment proceedings.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 5, 2020
Jason Thompson gave a brief of SB416 explaining that it would modify the notification process that identifies when a person may meet the criteria of a sexually violent predator and it also determines when a person is moved between county and state facilities. (Attachment 5)
The Division of the Budget provided a fiscal note for SB416. (Attachment 6).
Derek Schmidt spoke as a proponent of SB416 explaining that the purpose of this change is to start the identification procedure earlier because as it is written now there are only 90 days to get all the work done and it cannot always be accomplished. The present system also places inmates in county systems longer. This would correct that issue. (Attachment 7)
Jeff Easter spoke as a proponent of SB416 explaining that some offenders have been in custody a very long time (some as much as two years) as they wait for evaluation and treatment. Some of them should not be in the county system, but they are caught in a loop while they await assessment. Starting the process sooner will save money for counties and get offenders out of the county jails and into treatment sooner. (Attachment 8)
Laurie Dunn spoke as a proponent of SB416 explaining that sexually violent predators linger in the county jail far too long and it is expensive to house and care for them. There is no reimbursement fund to cover the expense of their care. In her situation, two of three inmates were released for lack of a speedy trial and are now back in the community to repeat their offenses. It is far more efficient and more fair to the inmate to start the process while in custody and not to drag out the process and the incarceration. (Attachment 9).
Randy Bowman gave neutral testimony on SB416 explaining that the bill has potential benefits, and it is good to reduce liability and expenditure for counties, but the challenge is that changing a timeline to 90 days means that they really need a much longer timeline to get all of this to happen. It takes 15-18 months to move through the screening process.(Attachment 10).
Hearing was closed. Meeting adjourned at 11:17 AM.
