HB 645 Summary

• Requires the Director of the Legislative Service Commission to prepare a "human impact statement" for any bill or joint resolution that creates or amends criminal prohibitions, criminal penalties, or laws governing imprisonment, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of offenders.

• The human impact statement must analyze whether the proposed legislation would have a disparate impact on racial or ethnic groups or by gender, including increased exposure to police contact, criminal investigation, detention, prosecution, conviction, sentencing, imprisonment, or correctional supervision.

• Statement must be prepared twice: before the bill is recommended for passage by the relevant house or senate committee, and again before final consideration by either house of the General Assembly.

• Director may request information from state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other governmental entities to complete the statement, which agencies must provide.

• Failure to prepare the human impact statement does not invalidate any bill or joint resolution passed by the General Assembly, and the statement is provided solely for informational purposes to lawmakers.