2005 Legislative Session Report #5

During this week (legislative days 22 to 25), Mike Mears made the FY06 budget request to the Senate Appropriations Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Monday. The House Appropriations Public Safety Subcommittee made its recommendations for the FY06 general budget on Friday. The subcommittee will vote on the recommendations on Monday. The full Senate Appropriations Committee will meet on Wednesday.

On other legislative matters, the committee substitute to HB 366 (opt-out provision) was heard by the full House Judiciary Non-Civil committee and passed out on Wednesday. The committee substitute allows the 3 counties that were denied opt-out to apply again by September 1, 2005 . It also sets out an opportunity for the applicant counties to cure any deficiencies and an appeals process in case of denial of opt-out.

HB 316 (juvenile public defenders) will be heard by the full House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.

SB 203 (recovery of attorney's fees) was heard by the full Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Because of some concerns over the current version of the bill, specifically as it applies to public defender offices, action on the bill was postponed until next week's meeting.

HB 561 was introduced on Tuesday dealing with the additional civil filing fees for civil actions in probate courts.

The committee substitute to HB 172 (Crime Victims Restitution Act of 2005) was adopted by the House on Tuesday (143 to 29). It is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The special subcommittee on HB 170 is continuing its hearings on the bill. The subcommittee members had many questions for the prosecutors as to the need for this legislation. A committee substitute is expected to be ready by next Tuesday when the subcommittee will conclude its hearing.

SR 161 (joint study commission on juvenile justice reform) passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

For more information on other criminal justice bills, please check out "Summary of 2005 Legislation."

The General Assembly will be in session next Wednesday (3/2) for legislative day 26.