SB64 Summary

• Authorizes circuit court judges (with district attorney consent) and municipal court judges (with mayor consent) to contract with private business entities to provide probation supervision, programs, and collection services for misdemeanor and lower-level offenses, but not felonies.

• Creates the County and Municipal Probation Advisory Council composed of district attorneys, judges, sheriffs, magistrates, and other representatives to establish uniform standards for private probation contracts and officer qualifications.

• Establishes uniform professional standards for private probation officers requiring minimum age of 21, no felony or violent misdemeanor convictions, two-year college degree or four years law enforcement experience, 40 hours initial orientation, and 20 hours annual continuing education.

• Prohibits private probation officers and their employers from engaging in conflicting employment, lending money to probationers, owning drug/alcohol education programs or bail bonding businesses, or directing probationers to specific substance abuse programs (Class C misdemeanor violation).

• Requires business entities to register with the council, conduct criminal background checks on employees, maintain confidential records accessible to courts and law enforcement, and submit quarterly reports; establishes civil penalties of at least $5,000 and criminal penalties for violations.