House Corrections Committee votes favorably to advance reparative-program bill

The House Corrections & Institutions Committee voted to advance House Bill 540, a measure drafted by a House adjudication reparative-program working group to clarify operations and provide judges direction on when to sentence people into a reparative program.

Committee leadership said the working group had unanimously proposed upgraded language that replaces an earlier reference to a reparative board with a reparative program and that House Judiciary previously reviewed the measure and recorded strong support. The committee offered no amendments and considered the bill as introduced.

A motion to report the bill out of committee favorably was made and seconded; the clerk conducted a roll call. Representatives recorded in the roll call announcing a 'yes' vote included Representative Casey, Representative Cal Fetti, Representative Hedrick, Representative Munoz, Representative Morrissey, Representative Winter, Representative Sweeney, Representative Gregoire and Chair Emmons; Representative Will Greer was noted absent. The committee chair said staff will follow the established process to transmit the bill to the clerk's office and scheduled further notice for later in the week.

The committee did not take additional action on the substance of HB 540 during the recorded vote. The chair said committee staff and members would coordinate with the reporter and clerk to set formal next steps for floor scheduling.

The committee paused briefly for logistics before continuing testimony on a separate bill related to gender equity in correctional facilities.