SPONSOR: Henderson
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 10 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Administrative Oversight by a vote of 8 to 0.
Beginning August 28, 2020, this bill repeals authorization for a separate commissary account, that is currently used for operational expenses, and an "Inmate Canteen Fund" that is used for the benefit of inmates. Instead, a new "Inmate Canteen Fund" is created beginning on August 28, 2020, that will serve both functions.
The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the new fund and money in the fund must be used to collect all revenue and pay operating expenses of the inmate canteens. The new fund will also be used for specified inmate benefits. The unexpended balance in the existing fund will be transferred to the new fund established after August 28, 2020,
This bill is the same as HCS HB 303 (2019).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this is for the benefit of offenders and money received from commissary purchases goes toward the purchase of supplies for the centers. This could be used for reentry services and will hopefully reduce recidivism rates. Additionally, this would allow the interest revenue of the fund to remain within the fund and not go to the General Revenue Fund.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Henderson; Missouri Department Of Correction; and Connor Kerrigan, Empower Missouri.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Statutes affected: