HB 1654 -- PROBATION FOR CRIMINAL NONSUPPORT OFFENDERS

CO-SPONSORS:  Crawford, Troupe

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Correctional and State Institutions by a vote of 15 to 0.

This bill requires the State Board of Probation and Parole to
provide probation services for offenders convicted for criminal
nonsupport when charged as a class A misdemeanor.  Currently,
the board only provides probation services for criminal
nonsupport offenders when charged with class D felonies.

FISCAL NOTE:  Cost to General Revenue of Unknown in FY 2001, FY
2002, and FY 2003.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill would allow the Board
of Probation and Parole to provide services to persons convicted
of misdemeanor nonsupport.  Supporters feel that by doing this
it could keep many offenders from committing felony nonsupport.
Probation and parole has the ability to get these offenders the
help they need, such as drug and alcohol counseling, and keep
them from getting into further trouble.  The goal is to get
these people to pay their child support, not put them in jail.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Crawford; Cooper
County Prosecutor's Office; and Department of Corrections.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Bob Dominique, Legislative Analyst

HB 1654 -- Probation for Criminal Nonsupport Offenders

Co-Sponsors:  Crawford, Troupe

This bill requires the State Board of Probation and Parole to
provide probation services for offenders convicted for criminal
nonsupport when charged as a class A misdemeanor.  Currently,
the board only provides probation services for criminal
nonsupport offenders when charged with class D felonies.