04/25/2003 02:53 PM House FIN

HOUSE BILL NO. 229                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act relating to special medical parole and to                                                                          
     prisoners who are severely medically and cognitively                                                                       
     disabled."                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
TOM WRIGHT,  STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  JOHN HARRIS,  deferred to                                                                   
the  Departments   of  Corrections  and  Health   and  Social                                                                   
Services to answer questions about the new fiscal notes.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
JERRY BURNETT,  DIRECTOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES,  DEPARTMENT                                                                   
OF CORRECTIONS  addressed the new  fiscal note.   He deferred                                                                   
to Dr. John Robertson to answer questions.                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
JOHN ROBERTSON, MEDICAL DIRECTOR,  DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS,                                                                   
observed  that  the  new  note  more  accurately  takes  into                                                                   
account the life  expectancy of the paroled  inmates, as well                                                                   
as reflecting the resources available  to them and its impact                                                                   
on  potential savings.    He added  that  the  new note  also                                                                   
reflected the cost  of a correctional officer  in relation to                                                                   
patient care.  He expressed confidence in the new figures.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Harris   observed  that  the  projected   potential                                                                   
savings of general  funds in FY 09 was $805  thousand, offset                                                                   
by a projected  general funds  cost of $234 thousand  for the                                                                   
Department of  Corrections, and  calculated that  the overall                                                                   
savings  vs. costs, including  the Department  of Health  and                                                                   
Social  Services,  for  that  year  would  be  $500  thousand                                                                   
projected.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker  noted  material  changes in  the  new                                                                   
fiscal notes and  expressed disappointment in  the quality of                                                                   
information provided by the new notes.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Foster   MOVED  to  report  HB   229  out  of                                                                   
Committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal note.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative  Hawker OBJECTED.   He  reiterated his  belief                                                                   
that  the  fiscal  information   was  inadequate  to  make  a                                                                   
decision.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
Representative Whitaker also OBJECTED on that same basis.                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
A roll call vote was taken on the motion.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
IN FAVOR: Chenault; Foster; Meyer; Harris; Williams                                                                             
OPPOSED: Croft; Hawker; Moses; Stoltze; Whitaker                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
The vote was tied at 5 to 5.                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
HB  229  was   HEARD  and  HELD  in  Committee   for  further                                                                   
consideration.