AZ HB2296

Establishes the Arizona Sentencing and Corrections Commission to collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of Arizona's sentencing practices, alternative sentencing programs, and state corrections policies.

Commission membership consists of 12 voting members including the chief justice (chair), state corrections director, prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys, superior court judges, and substance abuse expert, plus 6 non-voting ex officio members from legislature and executive agencies.

Commission responsibilities include collecting recidivism data, reviewing sentencing laws and practices in other states, evaluating early release policies for nonviolent offenders, and submitting annual reports to the legislature by December 1.

Commission may request information from state agencies, conduct hearings and fact-finding tours, and apply for grants; state agencies must provide services and equipment without cost to the commission.

Commission terminates on July 1, 2017, with Title 41, Chapter 51 repealed on January 1, 2018.