Committee restores polygraph provision to SB199, adopts substitute and gives favorable report

The Judiciary Committee on the floor adopted a substitute to Senate Bill 199 that restores language removed earlier on the floor and makes the bill identical to its House companion, HB26. Representative Butler, who offered the substitute, said the polygraph provision is discretionary and should be returned to the bill.

"That was the whole component of the bill," Representative Butler said, adding the provision reads as a "may" (discretionary) rather than a mandatory requirement. He told the committee that "states that have passed it have reduced recidivism," and described the polygraph piece as a strong incentive in the proposal.

Representative McClanahan asked which states had enacted the measure; Butler said he did not recall specifics but that the provision had passed the House with little debate. Committee members discussed procedure and whether the pardon board director should have authority to implement certain enforcement details; a colleague asked that the director of the Board of Pardons and Paroles "have some say" over implementation.

After debate the committee adopted the substitute and moved the bill for a favorable report as amended. The committee chair put the question and members voiced assent; the motion carried and the bill advanced with the substitute intact.

The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript for the final favorable report vote; members indicated assent and the chair announced the favorable report.