House backs Justice Reinvestment reporting and funds to help agencies comply

Representative Wilcox, sponsor of HB 403, told the House the bill compiles reporting requirements into a single place and provides funding so smaller agencies and courts can comply and electronically report required data. He said current compliance yields roughly "less than a third" of the data lawmakers expect and that funding is necessary to build interoperable systems.

Amendment and fiscal note: Amendment 1 (a coordinating clause) was moved and adopted on the floor. Representative Albrecht asked whether $13,000,000 seemed excessive for the systems work; Representative Wilcox replied that initial estimates had been higher (around $20,000,000) and that the adopted figure is intended to be sufficient for statewide implementation.

Why it matters: Sponsors argued the bill will provide necessary funding and clarity to yield more complete criminal-justice data, which in turn will inform future policy and improve the state's ability to measure outcomes under JRI.

Vote: First substitute HB 403 as amended passed the House with 69 yays, 0 nays and will be transmitted to the Senate.