House Bill 429

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-181, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS TO PLACE AN INMATE IN A PRE-RELEASE CENTER WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE INMATE'S EARLIEST RELEASE DATE AND TO ALLOW THE CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER TO HAVE A DESIGNEE APPROVE THE PLACEMENT OF THE INMATE INTO SUCH CENTER WHEN NECESSARY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-181, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-181. (1) The Department of Corrections is authorized to convert four (4) community work centers to pre-release centers. The department shall convert the community work centers as follows: one (1) center in the northern part of the state, two (2) centers in the central part of the state, and one (1) center in the southern part of the state.

(2) The department may place any inmate in a pre-release center if: (a) the inmate is within one (1) year of his or her earliest release date, and (b) the inmate is approved for placement by the classification hearing officer and the commissioner or the commissioner's designee.

(3) The department shall notify, by certified mail, each member of the board of supervisors of the county in which the center is located of the department's intent to convert the community work center to a pre-release center. The board of supervisors shall have thirty (30) days after the date of the mailing to disapprove the conversion of the center. If the board of supervisors disapproves of the pre-release center, the department shall not convert the community work center.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2007.