04/09/2008 10:24 AM Senate FIN

CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 359(FIN)                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
     "An Act  relating to the  term of probation  for persons                                                                   
     convicted  of  minor  consuming   or  in  possession  or                                                                   
     control  of  alcohol or  repeat  minor consuming  or  in                                                                   
     possession  or  control  of  alcohol;  and  relating  to                                                                   
     termination of  probation for certain  persons convicted                                                                   
     of  minor  consuming  or  in possession  or  control  of                                                                   
     alcohol or  repeat minor  consuming or in  possession or                                                                   
     control of alcohol."                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
EMILY BEATLEY,  STAFF, REPRESENTATIVE  JAY RAMRAS  introduced                                                                   
the bill.                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                
6:26:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JAY  RAMRAS, Sponsor, explained  that the bill                                                                   
was drafted as a betterment bill.   The concept originated to                                                                   
help young  people enter  the military.   Those convicted  of                                                                   
minor consuming  or in possession  of alcohol and who  are on                                                                   
probation  cannot join the  armed forces  until they  are 21.                                                                   
This bill would allow those persons  to petition the court to                                                                   
be  allowed to  join the  armed  forces.   He estimated  that                                                                   
there  are  about  3,500  persons  in  this  category.    New                                                                   
probation terms  have been established  for first  and second                                                                   
violations.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
Senator Olson  asked if  any other states  have this  type of                                                                   
legislation.  Ms. Beatley offered to find out.                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
Co-Chair  Hoffman  MOVED  to  REPORT  CSHB  359(FIN)  out  of                                                                   
Committee   with    individual   recommendations    and   the                                                                   
accompanying fiscal notes.  There  being NO OBJECTION, it was                                                                   
so ordered.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CSHB  359(FIN)  was  REPORTED   out  of  Committee  with  "no                                                                   
recommendation"  and with zero  fiscal note  #1 by  the House                                                                   
Judiciary Committee and fiscal note #2 by the Court System.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
6:29:30 PM