SJR43 Summary

• Creates the Alabama Prison Reform Task Force comprising 16 categories of appointed members including legislators, law enforcement officials, judicial representatives, and victim advocacy groups to address prison overcrowding and understaffing.

• Task force must study causes and solutions for prison overpopulation and personnel shortages, including court procedures, sentencing policies, parole policies, recidivism rates, and alternative drug court sentencing.

• Task force shall examine health insurance eligibility, enrollment, and coverage for individuals in the criminal justice system, including costs and benefits of suspending Medicaid benefits rather than terminating them.

• Task force must report findings, conclusions, and recommendations for proposed legislation to the Legislature no later than the 15th day of the 2016 Regular Session, at which point it dissolves.

• Legislative members receive regular compensation, per diem, and travel expenses for attending meetings; non-legislative members may be reimbursed for meeting-related expenses.