S.B. 1538 Summary

• Requires bail to be set in reasonable amounts based on all available information, including the alleged offense, possible punishment upon conviction, and the offender's financial ability to afford bail.

• Authorizes pretrial service officers to access other state agencies' data on an offender's wages and tax information for the limited purpose of determining an appropriate bail amount.

• Replaces the requirement that officers consider "punishment to be inflicted on conviction and the pecuniary circumstances of the party accused" with a broader standard requiring consideration of the defendant's financial ability to afford bail.

• Takes effect upon approval and does not affect rights, duties, or proceedings that matured or began before the effective date.