Latest news with #HouseBill1425
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota laws address avoiding criminal charges, improving life after jail
North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, center, held a signing ceremony April 29, 2025, for three justice reform bills. Seated with Armstrong were bill sponsor Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, right, and co-sponsor Rep. Karla Rose Hanson, D-Fargo. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) North Dakota officials on Tuesday described new legislation as improving 'off-ramps' from the criminal justice system, with one of the off-ramps coming before offenders get into the court system. 'We know that people who get into the criminal justice system tend to stay there,' said Tom Erhardt, director for parole and probation within the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. He said by improving the off-ramps, it will reduce the number of crime victims, reduce the number of repeat offenders and save the state money. North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong on Tuesday had a signing ceremony for three criminal justice reform bills, trying to keep people out of the court system, making it easier for them to comply with probation and helping former inmates integrate into society. The bills were based in part on a study conducted after the 2023 legislative session and a collaboration with the corrections department and the Department of Health and Human Services. 'Given the volume of support from prosecutors, public safety officers, community partners and several state agencies throughout the legislative process, it's clear that these policies move our criminal justice system in the right direction,' said Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, the sponsor of the three bills. Erhardt said he thinks House Bill 1425, which focuses on diversion and deflection, has the potential to be the most impactful. It provides $1 million for a pilot program in three counties to be selected by the corrections department. The county state's attorney would be able to develop a program focused on keeping people out of jail, using tools such as mental health and substance abuse services. Law enforcement could be part of the deflection process. The counties will report back on the pilot program before the start of the 2027 legislative session. The bill includes $750,000 through the Department of Health and Human Services for mental health services. 'We have crisis centers around the state, through our human service centers, where someone can come in and get withdrawal management or detox or get assessed for mental health, they may never have to go to the jail,' said Pam Sagness, executive director of the behavioral health division of HHS. House Bill 1417 would eliminate fees for people on supervised release. Not paying those fees can lead to a return to jail. The fees are also seen as a burden for low-income people. The corrections department bills about $6 million in supervision fees per biennium with a collection rate of around 25% or $1.5 million. Legislative Management may also do a study of court fines and fees before the next legislative session. Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails The third bill, House Bill 1549, would create a grant program for local jails for programs that help people adjust after being released from jail, referred to as reentry. 'Most jails don't have anything set up for reentry,' Colby Braun, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said after the ceremony. 'When you're done, the clothes you came in with, that's pretty much what you leave with.' The corrections department would assist with getting a driver's license or identification card and getting Medicaid or other assistance through the Department of Health and Human Services. The grants from the corrections department would help local jails set up a reentry program. 'So this is really focusing on those local jails to say, 'Hey, if you guys want to build something up, we've got some dollars,'' Braun said. The bill also creates a task force to study housing issues for people leaving jail and a possible study of criminal record sealing and expungement. The diversion and deflection bill will take effect July 1; the other bills will take effect Aug. 1. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lab-grown meat could get temporary ban, carbon storage heads to governor despite funding dispute
A scientist manipulates cultured meat samples in a sterile laboratory environment. (Getty Images) Indiana's Senate on Thursday decided to shelve lab-grown meat for a year while multiple state agencies study its safety. And House lawmakers sent a carbon sequestration measure to Gov. Mike Braun's desk without a funding compromise, while also advancing nuclear development. Senators adopted an amendment saying no one can make, offer for sale, or sell a cultivated meat product in Indiana from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026. Violators could be fined up to $10,000 a day. Labeling requirements in House Bill 1425 prompted confusion in committee earlier this month. It sat on the second reading calendar for about two weeks, racking up amendments. Sen. Jean Leising, R-Oldenburg, said she was working to find the right language. 'I believe we have come to the right point,' said Leising, the bill's Senate sponsor. 'There's a lot of uncertainty of this product so I think this will give us time.' The Indiana Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health and Department of Health would study how safe lab-grown meat is and deliver a report to lawmakers by Dec. 1. The legislation could get a Senate vote as soon as Monday. To produce 'cultivated' meat, manufacturers sample animal cells and multiply them in sealed vats, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency has allowed lab-grown meat sales since 2023, when it gave final approval to chicken-derived products by two California companies, Reuters reported. Other states are also grappling with the issue. A Montana proposal to ban lab-grown meat is moving in that state's legislature. And lawmakers in North Carolina are considering a bill mandating that a 'manufactured-protein food product' with an 'identifying meat term' be labeled with an 'appropriate qualifying term' — such as 'cell-cultured,' 'fake,' 'lab-grown,' or 'grown in a lab' — in large type. A measure tweaking Indiana's carbon dioxide sequestration policies crossed the finish line Thursday on a 55-37 vote — but a separate measure striking a funding compromise is yet to come. Rep. Ed Soliday told his colleagues, 'You are voting (for) who is going to pay for the administration of a corporately owned sequestration pipe and well. And the choice is simple: if you vote for the bill, the corporation does; if you vote against it, your taxpayers pay for it.' He's the House sponsor for Senate Bill 457, which would exempt pipeline companies from needing to get certificates of authority in certain cases, create a permit for exploratory wells and well conversions; add inspection provisions; charge new fines for legal violations and tweak other fees. Originally, fine and fee proceeds would've gone to dedicated funds to defray state spending on project administration and monitoring. But a Senate amendment directed the money to the state's General Fund instead; House lawmakers didn't consider two amendments filed to undo the changes or take a 50-50 approach. While on the floor, Soliday said there 'may be some correction.' He previously indicated that could come as a trailer bill. Opponents were skeptical. Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, said the redirection 'means there is no guarantee' that regulators will have the money to do the permitting, monitoring and other enforcement required by law. And under Administrator Lee Zeldin, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has moved to give more states the power to self-regulate carbon dioxide injections and sequestration, recently approving a request from West Virginia. If Indiana's Department of Natural Resources wants that authority, Pierce said, it may need even more personnel and resources, not less. Worries over how companies can skip certificates of authority also went unresolved. Senate Bill 457 says they're not required if pipelines and storage facilities stay within a property — even if they have impacts beyond those boundaries. In committee, Soliday said he 'shared' Pierce's concerns and said that would be part of the financial fix. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, said the legislation improves implementation of Indiana's existing sequestration policies. Asked how confident he was that the promised changes would materialize, Huston told reporters, 'There are some things that were noted today in the debate, but I felt good about it. … Good to get that one across the finish line, get it to the governor, and we'll work through a couple of the other issues.' A bill aiding early development work on emerging nuclear power technology also won acceptance from the House Thursday — although recent changes require Senate consent to send it to Braun's desk. Senate Bill 424 would offer public utilities working on small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) a path to recover 80% of pre-construction costs, including anticipated spending, from customers within three years — and before they obtain certificates of public convenience and necessity from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The other 20% would be part of a general rate case. Included are expenditures for design; engineering; environmental analyses and permitting; federal approvals, licensing and permitting; equipment purchases and more. Soliday, also this bill's House sponsor, said it's not a giveaway to utility companies. 'The utility doesn't just get to go out and start working on a small modular reactor and then collect the money from the ratepayers,' he told colleagues. The legislation lays out a process. Once the IURC gives a utility permission to start spending, the company would be able to request approval of a rate schedule to pass those costs on to customers. Regulators would have to approve if they find the costs reasonable in amount, consistent with their best spending estimate, and necessary to support SMR development. Overspending wouldn't get passed to ratepayers unless regulators deem the spending 'reasonable, necessary, and prudent' in supporting reactor development. Expenditures for canceled or abandoned projects wouldn't be recoverable without the same 'reasonable, necessary, and prudent' finding. Even so, a utility wouldn't profit unless regulators also find the decision was 'prudently made for good cause,' that profit is 'appropriate … to avoid harm' to the utility and its customers; and that costs will be offset or reimbursed through other, listed means. 'All we're doing here is actually helping the ratepayers,' Soliday said. He argued that the legislation lets utilities 'pay as they go, and the worst thing that happens is they get a much lower interest bond.' Pierce, however, opined that it 'unreasonably shifts the risk of an unproven technology' onto electricity customers. Most Hoosiers are served by one of the state's 'big five' investor-owned, regulated monopolies. He cited one failed SMR project that would've required $1 billion in pre-construction costs. CONTACT US 'Here's the thing that really bothers me,' Pierce continued. 'If the utility knows that they're going to bear the cost of a failed project, they're going to think long and hard about whether it's economically viable. … We're telling them no problem, because we're going to let you recover all those costs, and we're going to define those costs in a fairly broad way.' Senate Bill 424 advanced on a 59-30 vote. Soliday's committee deleted a Senate expiration date for the cost-recovery provisions, so the Senate must agree to the change before the legislation heads to Braun. Identical language in House Bill 1007 is also expected to cross the finish line. 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Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails
Exterior of the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. Bills under consideration by state lawmakers aim to address crowding at state prisons and jails. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, 'it puts both parties in a difficult situation,' said Colby Braun, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Eliminating those fees, and the time and effort that goes into collecting them, has been identified as one way to help keep low-level criminals out of North Dakota's crowded jails and prison system. Lawmakers on Wednesday heard from Braun and others advocating for three bills addressing jail overcrowding and keeping people from getting caught in a revolving door of legal trouble. House Bill 1425 focuses on diversion and deflection, keeping people out of jail with mental health and substance abuse service. It would establish a pilot program in three counties. House Bill 1417 would eliminate fees for people on supervised release. Not paying those fees can lead to a return to jail. The fees are also seen as a burden for low-income people. House Bill 1549 would create a grant program for local jails for programs that help people adjust after being released from jail, referred to as reentry. It would also study barriers to reentry, such as housing, access to Medicaid, and maintaining a valid driver's license or getting some other identification. It would also study why Blacks and Native Americans are incarcerated at higher rates than other populations. 'As a package, these proposals promote public safety through an intentional focus on reentry, recovery and rehabilitation that will improve the lives of people exiting the justice system and reduce the likelihood that they find their way back into the system,' Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, the sponsor of the bills, told the House Judiciary Committee. 'This is a better use of our tax dollars, correctional space and the smart approach to maintaining public safety in our state.' The bills address issues identified by a Reentry Study Work Group. They also address the lack of beds available in North Dakota jails, which also is in need of a short-term fix, Gov. Kelly Armstrong has said. Armstrong, a former defense attorney, also voiced support during his budget address for investments in behavioral health and other steps to reduce reliance on jails and prisons. In committee work later Wednesday, Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, spoke against all three bills. 'If we continue to think that the government is the answer to behavioral health, we're going to be going down into a bottomless pit,' Hoverson said. The Judiciary Committee did not act on the bills, with Klemin indicating the committee will take them up Monday. Monday is the deadline for House committees to act on bills that must go to the Appropriations Committee. The bill on fees removes a $55 per month supervision fee charged to people on supervised release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation bills about $6 million in supervision fees per biennium, with a collection rate of only about 25%. Braun said that does account for the time officers spend trying to collect fees. 'There's no bang for the buck,' Braun said. He said being able to provide positive reinforcement with people is much more effective. Sister Kathleen Atkinson, who operates Ministry on the Margins in Bismarck, said some people will choose going back to jail and using state resources rather than paying fees. The diversion bill would allow state's attorneys in each county to create their own program that could lead to the dismissal of charges if a defendant uses mental health or substance abuse treatment. While not specified in the bill, Klemin said it is intended for low-level charges. Legislative hearing at North Dakota State Penitentiary highlights rehabilitation programs The bill also calls for a pilot project in three counties, to be determined later, working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 'Pick me,' Cass County State's Attorney Kim Hegvik said Wednesday, testifying in favor of the bill. Hegvik said Cass County had a diversion program but did not have the resources to provide the supervision that people in the program needed. 'This is a great place to spend our resources,' she said. There was no negative testimony presented Wednesday, but there was opposition testimony submitted by Ward County State's Attorney Rozanna Larson. She said she feared the bill would not provide the mental health support that many people need and instead create more work for prosecutors and law enforcement. The bill would also study the effectiveness of pretrial services, which Larson said is not meeting expectations. The reentry study would include looking at programs specifically designed for Native Americans and drawing on Native culture. Braun noted the implementation of Akisni Warrior Lodge program targeted at Natives at the James River Correctional Center as an example. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trio of bills addresses justice reform, crowded North Dakota jails
Exterior of the North Dakota State Penitentiary on Feb. 4, 2025. Bills under consideration by state lawmakers aim to address crowding at state prisons and jails. (Michael Achterling/North Dakota Monitor) When parole and probation officers have to try to collect fees from people on supervised release, 'it puts both parties in a difficult situation,' said Colby Braun, director of the North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Eliminating those fees, and the time and effort that goes into collecting them, has been identified as one way to help keep low-level criminals out of North Dakota's crowded jails and prison system. Lawmakers on Wednesday heard from Braun and others advocating for three bills addressing jail overcrowding and keeping people from getting caught in a revolving door of legal trouble. House Bill 1425 focuses on diversion and deflection, keeping people out of jail with mental health and substance abuse service. It would establish a pilot program in three counties. House Bill 1417 would eliminate fees for people on supervised release. Not paying those fees can lead to a return to jail. The fees are also seen as a burden for low-income people. House Bill 1549 would create a grant program for local jails for programs that help people adjust after being released from jail, referred to as reentry. It would also study barriers to reentry, such as housing, access to Medicaid, and maintaining a valid driver's license or getting some other identification. It would also study why Blacks and Native Americans are incarcerated at higher rates than other populations. 'As a package, these proposals promote public safety through an intentional focus on reentry, recovery and rehabilitation that will improve the lives of people exiting the justice system and reduce the likelihood that they find their way back into the system,' Rep. Lawrence Klemin, R-Bismarck, the sponsor of the bills, told the House Judiciary Committee. 'This is a better use of our tax dollars, correctional space and the smart approach to maintaining public safety in our state.' The bills address issues identified by a Reentry Study Work Group. They also address the lack of beds available in North Dakota jails, which also is in need of a short-term fix, Gov. Kelly Armstrong has said. Armstrong, a former defense attorney, also voiced support during his budget address for investments in behavioral health and other steps to reduce reliance on jails and prisons. In committee work later Wednesday, Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, spoke against all three bills. 'If we continue to think that the government is the answer to behavioral health, we're going to be going down into a bottomless pit,' Hoverson said. The Judiciary Committee did not act on the bills, with Klemin indicating the committee will take them up Monday. Monday is the deadline for House committees to act on bills that must go to the Appropriations Committee. The bill on fees removes a $55 per month supervision fee charged to people on supervised release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation bills about $6 million in supervision fees per biennium, with a collection rate of only about 25%. Braun said that does account for the time officers spend trying to collect fees. 'There's no bang for the buck,' Braun said. He said being able to provide positive reinforcement with people is much more effective. Sister Kathleen Atkinson, who operates Ministry on the Margins in Bismarck, said some people will choose going back to jail and using state resources rather than paying fees. The diversion bill would allow state's attorneys in each county to create their own program that could lead to the dismissal of charges if a defendant uses mental health or substance abuse treatment. While not specified in the bill, Klemin said it is intended for low-level charges. Legislative hearing at North Dakota State Penitentiary highlights rehabilitation programs The bill also calls for a pilot project in three counties, to be determined later, working with the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. 'Pick me,' Cass County State's Attorney Kim Hegvik said Wednesday, testifying in favor of the bill. Hegvik said Cass County had a diversion program but did not have the resources to provide the supervision that people in the program needed. 'This is a great place to spend our resources,' she said. There was no negative testimony presented Wednesday, but there was opposition testimony submitted by Ward County State's Attorney Rozanna Larson. She said she feared the bill would not provide the mental health support that many people need and instead create more work for prosecutors and law enforcement. The bill would also study the effectiveness of pretrial services, which Larson said is not meeting expectations. The reentry study would include looking at programs specifically designed for Native Americans and drawing on Native culture. Braun noted the implementation of Akisni Warrior Lodge program targeted at Natives at the James River Correctional Center as an example. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
