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Title: Amends Drug Sentencing Laws
Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that amends existing criminal justice law to reduce the punishment for certain controlled substances and reintegrate offenders back into society.
Highlights:
- Classifies the punishment for possessing more than one-half of an ounce of a cannabis-type substance or other controlled substance as a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 1).
- Authorizes the court to suspend prosecution of a second time offender if, after an evaluation, it is determined that the individual is drug-dependent (Sec. 1).
- Authorizes the court to order a drug-dependent, second time offender to undergo a substance abuse treatment program (Sec. 1).
- Classifies the violation of the provisions of this bill on or within 1,500 feet of an elementary or secondary school, or day care center as a class A misdemeanor (Sec. 1).
- Specifies that an inmate may be allowed to go at large on parole if the individual meets the following criteria (Sec. 11):
- The individual is convicted of a victimless crime;
- The individual is known by the Board of Pardons and Paroles; and
- The individual is not otherwise prohibited from being granted parole for any reason.
- Classifies the persistent offense of an individual who has been convicted of possessing a controlled substance for the third time as a class E felony and authorizes the court to impose a prison sentence (Sec. 19).
More Info About this Vote
NOTE: THIS BILL WAS VOTED ON DURING A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE