SPONSOR: Costlow
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 10 to 2, with one member voting "present". Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules-Administrative by a vote of 9 to 0 with 1 voting present.
The following is a summary for the House Committee Substitute for HBs 3292 & 2171.
This bill directs the Department of Corrections to establish the "Motivational Boot Camp Incarceration Program".
The Program must include a strong emphasis on work; physical activity; good health practices; intensive counseling; treatment programming; self-discipline and self-motivation; and a detailed explanation of program goals, objectives, rules and criteria.
Enrollment in the Program will last for a period of two years.
The Boot Camp Program will be voluntary and available to any person between the ages of 17 and 21 who has two prior convictions for nonviolent criminal offenses which is not a Class A or B felony. Upon a third conviction for a nonviolent offense which is not a Class A or B felony, the offender can choose participation in the Boot Camp Incarceration Program in lieu of a jail or prison sentence.
Before placement in the Program, participants will be screened for disqualifying criteria, including: physical or mental disability that would inhibit strenuous physical activity, contagious diseases, age qualifications, and Department approval for placement.
The Department will certify an offender's satisfactory completion of the Program to the court. Upon receipt of the certification, the court will release the person from confinement and expunge the offense for which the person was sentenced from their criminal record. If the Department finds that an offender's participation in the Program is unsatisfactory, the court can impose the remainder of the original jail or prison sentence.
This bill is similar to HB 2171 (2026) and HB 817 (2025). 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 we’ve all been young and made mistakes, but mistakes shouldn’t always keep us from moving on in life. People deserve second chances. This bill is designed to give young people a foundation and stability to move along and become productive citizens. Peer pressure can lead to choices young people will regret. An opportunity to change is all some people need to thrive and realize they don’t always have to be the same person who committed the crime. Many states have these programs. The cost to house and treat young people in these programs is lower than in a normal prison, and care is improved. There’s some debate about recidivism, but the data on newer procedures is quite positive. Originally, it was more punitive and lacked the therapy approach. This program will work to avoid potential resentment, which was a problem in past programs. This is designed to prevent people from committing further, worse crimes.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative Costlow; and Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: