Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

SECOND REGULAR SESSION
                        HOUSE BILL NO. 2663
                               103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY


                                 INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JOBE.

     5944H.01I                                                                    JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk


                                                AN ACT
     To amend chapters 217 and 558, RSMo, by adding thereto two new sections relating to terms
           of imprisonment.


     Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

            Section A. Chapters 217 and 558, RSMo, are amended by adding thereto two new
 2   sections, to be known as sections 217.738 and 558.500, to read as follows:
            217.738. 1. Any offender receiving a reduction of sentence under section 558.500
 2   shall be granted a hearing before the parole board.
 3          2. In addition to meeting all other requirements of this chapter, for an offender
 4   receiving a reduction of sentence under section 558.500 to be eligible for supervised
 5   release as a condition of parole, the offender shall provide to the board the following:
 6          (1) At least five statements from current or former department of corrections
 7   employees attesting to the offender's demonstration of institutional adaptability and the
 8   offender's conduct in the correctional center;
 9          (2) Signed statements of at least twenty residents of the community where the
10   offender will reside upon release supporting the offender's release and who commit to
11   providing assistance with the offender's reentry into the community; and
12          (3) A safe and secure home plan for implementation upon the offender's release.
            558.500. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
 2   sentencing court may, upon petition, reduce a sentence of life without eligibility for
 3   probation or parole, or reduce a sentence of thirty years or greater, to a sentence of life
 4   with eligibility for probation or parole if the court determines that:


     EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is
     intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language.
HB 2663                                         2

 5           (1) The convicted person has served at least thirty years in the department of
 6   corrections;
 7           (2) The convicted person was under twenty years of age at the time the offense
 8   was committed; and
 9           (3) Since the commission of the offense the convicted person has:
10           (a) Made reasonable efforts toward rehabilitation by successfully completing
11   rehabilitation programs, which may include, but shall not be limited to, substance abuse
12   treatment, effective communication classes, victim impact classes, vocational training,
13   correspondence courses to obtain a degree or diploma, or acquiring job skills; and
14           (b) Exhibited model citizen behavior within his or her correctional facility,
15   which may include, but shall not be limited to, maintaining sobriety or demonstrating
16   sober living; demonstrating traits of leadership; and attending education-based
17   activities, which may include, but shall not be limited to, coursework relating to
18   victim impact, restorative justice, substance abuse treatment, or effective
19   communication.
20           2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the division of
21   probation and parole shall supervise any convicted person receiving a reduction of
22   sentence under subsection 1 of this section for the duration of the convicted person's
23   natural life.
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Statutes affected: 
Introduced (5944H.01): 217.738, 558.500