HB 1654-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

8Mar2012… 0646h

2012 SESSION

12-2074

04/01

HOUSE BILL 1654-FN

AN ACT relative to earned time credits for inmates participating in rehabilitative programming.

SPONSORS: Rep. Welch, Rock 8; Rep. Villeneuve, Hills 18; Rep. Charron, Rock 7; Rep. Shurtleff, Merr 10; Rep. Pantelakos, Rock 16; Rep. Gile, Merr 10; Rep. Tholl, Coos 2; Sen. D'Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Sen. Larsen, Dist 15

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill authorizes the commissioner of the department of corrections to award earned time credits for a prisoner’s participation in or completion of educational or vocational programming.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

8Mar2012… 0646h

12-2074

04/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to earned time credits for inmates participating in rehabilitative programming.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Parole of Prisoners; Earned Time Credits. Amend RSA 651-A by inserting after section 22 the following new section:

651-A:22-a Earned Time Credits.

I. The commissioner, after reviewing a prisoner’s record, shall award to a prisoner a one-time reduction in his or her minimum and maximum sentences for successful completion of each of the following programs while incarcerated:

(a) Education Programs:

(1) GED 90 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 90 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(2) High School Diploma 120 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 120 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(3) Associate’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(4) Bachelor’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(5) Master’s Degree 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(6) Doctor of Philosophy 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s minimum sentence and 180 day reduction in the prisoner’s maximum sentence.

(b) Vocational Programming. A prisoner who successfully completes a vocational program that is authorized and approved by the department or who successfully completes a vocational program that the commissioner deems to be valuable to the prisoner’s rehabilitation, shall be entitled to a reduction of up to 60 days in his or her minimum sentence and a reduction of up to 60 days in his or her maximum sentence. The commissioner shall establish procedures, which shall be exempt from RSA 541-A, for awarding such reductions.

II. The earned time reductions authorized in paragraph I shall be available to prisoners who were sentenced prior to, on, or after the effective date of this section.

2 Sentences and Limitations. Amend RSA 651:2, II-e to read as follows:

II-e. To the minimum sentence of every person who is sentenced to imprisonment for a maximum of more than one year shall be added a disciplinary period equal to 150 days for each year of the minimum term of the sentence, to be prorated for any part of the year. The presiding justice shall certify, at the time of sentencing, the minimum term of the sentence and the additional disciplinary period required under this paragraph. This additional disciplinary period may be reduced for good conduct as provided in RSA 651-A:22 and for earned time as provided in RSA 651-A:22-a. There shall be no addition to the sentence under this section for the period of pre-trial confinement for which credit against the sentence is awarded pursuant to RSA 651-A:23.

3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

12-2074

12/23/11

HB 1654-FN - FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to earned time credits for inmates participating in rehabilitative programming.

FISCAL IMPACT:

METHODOLOGY: