MS HC49

Creates new Joint Rule No. 41 requiring racial and ethnic disparity impact statements for bills, concurrent resolutions, and amendments that create or significantly change public offenses or sentencing procedures.

Statements must include reliable estimates of anticipated impact on the state's racial and ethnic population and be attached to measures when reported by legislative committees.

Department of Public Safety's Office of Public Safety Planning shall prepare impact statements within seven days of request; bill authors or committees may attach alternative statements if they disagree with findings.

If no impact estimate is possible after investigation, the statement must explain why; no commentary on the merit of the measure is permitted in the statement.

Rule does not apply to general appropriation bills, conference reports, or local and private bills; any legislator may request an impact statement by majority vote if one was omitted.