Sentencing guidelines task force.

WORKING DRAFT
2007
STATE OF
WYOMING
07LSO-0109

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0092

Sentencing guidelines task force.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Meier and Decaria and Representative(s) Alden, Buchanan, Landon, Lubnau and Warren

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to criminal procedure; creating a sentencing guidelines task force to study criminal sentencing in Wyoming; specifying membership and duties; requiring a report; providing an appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of
Wyoming
:

Section 1.

(a)

There is created a sentencing guidelines task force.

(b)

The task force shall be comprised of:

(i)

Two (2) members of the
Wyoming
senate, appointed by the president of the senate. Not more than one (1) member shall be of the same political party. The president of the senate shall designate a cochairman of the task force;

(ii)

Two (2) members of the
Wyoming
house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house. Not more than one (1) member shall be of the same political party. The speaker of the house shall designate a cochairman of the task force;

(iii)

Two (2) district court judges appointed by the chief justice of the
Wyoming
supreme court;

(iv)

One (1) circuit court judge appointed by the chief justice of the Wyoming supreme court; and

(v)

One (1) person at large, appointed by the governor.

(c)

The task force shall:

(i)

Meet no less than four (4) times;

(ii)

Conduct a comprehensive analysis of:

(A)

The
Wyoming
criminal sentencing statutes;

(B)

How the Wyoming criminal sentencing statutes are being implemented by state courts, to determine if the criminal sentencing statutes and actual criminal sentences imposed are effective in protecting the lives, property and safety of Wyoming citizens; and

(C)

Sentencing guidelines used by other states and the effectiveness of those guidelines.

(iii)

Develop recommendations to modify criminal sentencing statutes, including developing sentencing guidelines, if appropriate, and submit draft legislation for consideration by the joint judiciary interim committee;

(iv)

Report its findings and recommendations to the joint judiciary interim committee no later than November 1, 2008.

(d)

Legislators serving on the task force shall be paid salary, per diem and travel expenses as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 for their official duties as members of the task force. Members of the judiciary serving on the task force shall be paid from their respective courts' budgets for the performance of their official duties as members of the task force. The at-large member serving on the task force shall receive travel and per diem expenses incurred for the performance of his official duties as a member of the task force in the same amount as legislators under W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101.

(e)

The task force shall be staffed by the legislative service office. State agencies, including the
University
of
Wyoming
, shall assist the task force as requested in conducting its duties under this act.

Section 2.

There is appropriated ten thousand eight hundred seventy-five dollars ($10,875.00) from the general fund
, for the period commencing with the effective date of this act through the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009,
to the legislative service office to fund the meetings of the task force.

Section 3.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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SF0092