SB 558 Summary

• Establishes a criminal law and sentencing policy study committee consisting of 14 members including legislators, prosecutors, public defenders, judges, and corrections officials to review all proposed changes to criminal law, criminal procedure, delinquent act laws, and juvenile court procedures before consideration by the General Assembly.

• Requires all bills and joint resolutions containing criminal law changes to be assigned to appropriate standing criminal law committees on first reading and to include fiscal impact information on effects to the Department of Correction and political subdivisions.

• Prohibits consideration of criminal law bills unless the committee has reviewed and recommended the language for enactment and the bill digest includes required fiscal impact statements, except when appropriations committees approve sufficient funding or designated criminal law committees vote approval.

• Delays the effective date of criminal law changes that increase confined offender population or Department of Correction costs until the General Assembly appropriates the estimated amount needed for implementation, with a minimum threshold of $50,000 if costs cannot be determined.

• Effective July 1, 2011; repeals the previous version of the criminal law and sentencing policy study committee statute.