Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall study:

1. Initiatives for regional cooperation and solutions in building county jails;

2. Population of county jails, overcrowding and growth;

3. State probation violations, where those violations should be served and who should pay for the resulting incarceration;

4. Probation options, graduated sanctions and probation officer case load;

5. Criminal court case loads, whether cases are being handled in a timely fashion and whether there are sufficient judicial resources allocated to handle the current case load; and

6. Issues concerning female offenders in county jails; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That the members of the commission who are Legislators are entitled to the legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings of the commission. Other members of the commission who are not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses incurred for their attendance at authorized meetings; and be it further

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the commission shall submit its report, together with any necessary implementing legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over corrections and criminal justice matters no later than November 1, 2002. Following receipt of the report,

the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over corrections and criminal justice matters may introduce legislation to the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature. If the commission requires a limited extension of time to conclude its work, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant the extension.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This resolve establishes the Commission to Study County Jail Population, Costs and Reimbursement by the State. The commission shall report its findings to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over corrections and criminal justice by November 1, 2002.