HB372 - Municipal Probation Reform Act

• Establishes the Municipal Probation Reform Act, allowing municipal courts to contract with private probation entities to provide probation supervision, counseling, and collection services for misdemeanor offenders.

• Requires private probation entities to register with the Administrative Office of Courts and meet qualifications including at least one supervisor with 5 years of corrections/probation experience and general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000.

• Sets employee qualifications requiring probation officers to be at least 21 years old, have a two-year college degree or four years of law enforcement experience, complete criminal background checks, and complete 40 hours of initial orientation training and 20 hours of annual continuing education.

• Prohibits certain individuals from owning or operating probation entities, including those with felony convictions, domestic violence convictions, employees of the Administrative Office of Courts, and persons with apparent conflicts of interest with probationers.

• Authorizes the Administrative Office of Courts to conduct inspections and investigations, and to assess administrative fines up to $1,000 per violation, deny registration, or suspend/revoke registration for noncompliance, with fines categorized as Category I ($100-$300), Category II ($200-$700), or Category III ($400-$1,000).