Committee passes substitute combining bills to revise "good time" credit and add release provisions; 14-1

A House committee voted to advance a committee substitute that combines multiple bills to revise earned "good time" credit, exclude certain violent felonies from eligibility, and add provisions on restoration of voting rights and release documentation.

Scott Bell, chief of staff for Chad Perkins, speaker pro tem, told the committee the substitute consolidates several bills and "it still has Good Time Credit, which is now Representative Kimberly-Ann Collins' version," and said the Department of Corrections is comfortable with that language. Bell said the substitute adds exclusions: "Certain violent felonies don't qualify for Good Time Credit now, and those are listed in the bill," and that the list is lengthy and was developed in consultation with the Missouri Prosecutors Association.

Representative Valey said she will vote for the substitute but criticized how the changes were negotiated. "For people that's watching my vote, this is, you know, this is a step in the right direction for me," Valey said, adding she would like to see more stakeholders, including defense representatives, at the table in future negotiations because she believes "the effect of this bill is gonna be a little watered down than what the original tension is." Representative Terry likewise told the committee she found it "kinda alarming that the prosecutor office had a say in this" but said she would vote yes.

Ranking Member Kimberly-Ann Collins noted additional provisions that are part of the substitute: "this bill is carrying the restoration of voting rights that language is in on the first page," and she said the substitute also includes a prior committee-passed provision to ensure offenders receive appropriate documentation upon release.

The committee adopted a technical committee amendment (ending in .5.01) described in the hearing as a minor textual change. Chairman Mayhew then moved to roll the amendment into a new substitute and moved that the House Committee substitute for House Bills 27-51, 28-31 and 26-95 be voted do pass. After a roll call the chair announced the substitute passed by a vote of 14 ayes and 1 no.

With no further business the committee adjourned.

What’s next: The substitute will be reported as do pass to the full House according to standard legislative procedure; the transcript does not specify a calendar date for further action.