SPONSOR: DeGroot
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Judiciary by a vote of 11 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 13 to 0.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 1897.
This bill establishes the "Correctional Center Nursery Program", which requires the Missouri Department of Corrections to establish a Correctional Center Nursery in one or more centers operated by the Department. Mothers who are inmates shall be permitted to reside with infants for up to 18 months. The program has no effect on child custody and participation is at the discretion of the Department rather than sentencing courts.
Conditions for placement into the program are mandated by the bill and inmates must enter into a written agreement. Conditions for removal from the program are also specified in the bill.
The program is paid for by the "Correctional Center Nursery Program Fund" which is created by the bill and which can receive funds by appropriation, assignment of child support by inmates, and gifts, grants, and donations.
The program is subject to regulation only by the Department of Corrections, but can agree to voluntary regulation, licensing, or oversight by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The bill authorizes rulemaking by the Department of Corrections for administration of the program.
This bill is similar to SB 834 (2022).
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this establishes a nursery program in the Department of Corrections (DOC). This has been established in nine other states already. It is good for infants; it allows them to develop attachments to their mothers. Data shows when you are able to keep a baby with the parent in DOC, those children have better outcomes than those who are not. It is also better for mothers. Data shows that, when this happens, there are improved outcomes and often you see the parent still living with the baby three years later so that shows that they are not recidivizing. Mothers will be properly screened prior to admission to the program. The cost of the program is approximately 40% less than the cost of foster care. The fiscal note will be offset by the savings in other areas, including recidivism. Several studies have looked at development of babies who have participated in this program and these babies were more likely to develop secure attachments than those who grew up not in prison. Those who grew up with their mothers were less likely to develop depression and addiction and are more likely to themselves be incarcerated and this reduces that. If you start off with good practices and screen properly it is less likely that you ll put women in the program who will cause harm to the babies. Mothers who participate in this program are less likely to have rule infractions because women know it is a privilege to be in the program. It has also brought a better atmosphere to the prison. This is not a punishment for babies, as some people are concerned it is. It is a better atmosphere in the facility because they are around babies all day. They ended up with a zero budget cost because lots of people and organizations support this program.
Testifying for the bill were Representative DeGroot; Angela Glazebrook; Kendall Martinez-Wright; Travis C Schoengarth; Campaign Life Missouri; Arnie C. Dienoff; Margaret Burke, Center For Women In Transition; Justice Action Network; American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; Kids Win Missouri; National Association of Social Workers - Mo Chapter; and Missouri Appleseed.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill submitted written testimony, which can be found online.
Testifying against the bill was Ian K. Hornstra, MD, Phd.
OTHERS: Others testifying on the bill say they visited Indiana to see how they run their program and found it very informational. Mother s healthcare would continue to be covered as it is now, and the baby s health care would also be covered by that.
Testifying on the bill were Jillian Barnas, Most Policy Initiative; Trevor Foley and Adam Albach, MO Deptartment of Corrections.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: