HB21-1209 Summary

• Expands eligibility for a specialized rehabilitation program to include offenders who committed felonies when under 21 years of age (previously limited to juveniles under 18), allowing petition for placement after serving 20-35 years depending on offense severity.

• Offenders convicted of non-murder felonies may petition after 20 years of service; those charged with first-degree murder who pleaded guilty to lesser felonies must serve 30 years before petition eligibility and 35 years before early parole release.

• Establishes presumptions that offenders who complete the specialized program and meet service requirements (25 years for non-murder, 30-35 years for murder cases) are suitable for release unless evidence rebuts this finding.

• Requires courts to notify defendants under 21 at time of offense that they may be eligible for the specialized program, and mandates restorative justice practices be made available to victims who request participation.

• Appropriates $118,976 for the 2021-22 fiscal year to the Department of Corrections for program implementation, including 1.4 FTE positions and operating expenses.