Senate committee backs mandatory-jail substitute for repeat criminal reentry bill after public debate

The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee on Tuesday adopted a third substitute to Senate Bill 90 and voted to favorably recommend the measure to the full Senate.

The third substitute narrows earlier language and ties mandatory short jail sentences to two conditions: a prior criminal reentry conviction and at least one previous criminal conviction. Sponsor Senator Curt Musselman said the intent is to target “a very specific set of individuals and their actions” — people who have been deported and repeatedly return and who are linked to organized criminal activity.

“We're targeting specifically those who are clearly connected to organized crime,” Musselman said. He described law enforcement reporting that included an individual deported 11 times and said those repeat reentries suggest cartel involvement. Musselman said the measure is not intended to impose…