SB 1204 Summary

• Requires bills that create new criminal offenses, modify existing criminal offenses, or modify penalties for existing offenses to be referred to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research for a minority impact statement before consideration.

• Mandates the minority impact statement include estimates of annual criminal cases affected, effects on racial minority groups and correctional institutions, and a finding on whether the bill has disparate impact on racial minorities.

• Authorizes the Office of Economic and Demographic Research to request assistance from executive agencies, which must promptly provide necessary information.

• Requires bill sponsors to consider amending bills found to have disparate impact on racial minorities; if sponsors choose not to amend, they must provide written reasons that will be appended to the statement.

• Effective date: July 1, 2015.