Bill Text: MS SB2673 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Parole Board; require to conduct video-teleconference parole hearings from main office.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [SB2673 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2012-SB2673-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Corrections
By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd)
Senate Bill 2673
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-7-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE STATE PAROLE BOARD TO CONDUCT PAROLE HEARINGS FROM ITS MAIN OFFICE THROUGH VIDEO-TELECONFERENCE SITES TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AT FIVE OR MORE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 47-7-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
47-7-13. (1) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business. A decision to parole an offender convicted of murder or a sex-related crime shall require the affirmative vote of three (3) members. The board shall maintain, in minute book form, a copy of each of its official actions with the reasons therefor.
(2) Suitable and sufficient office space and support resources and staff necessary to conducting Parole Board business shall be provided by the Department of Corrections. The department shall also equip the Parole Board office and at least five (5) correctional facilities with the means to conduct a video-teleconference parole hearing. * * * The principal place for conducting video-teleconference parole hearings shall be the Parole Board main office.
(a) The department is authorized to establish video-teleconference sites at the following regional facilities: Alcorn County, Holmes-Humphreys County, Kemper-Neshoba County, Marion-Walthall County and George-Greene County.
(b) The department may, however, select a different correctional facility in which to establish a video-teleconference site, provided that a site is established in each of the five districts set forth in Section 9-4-5(5).
(3) The board shall conduct any parole hearing from its main office through video-teleconference means, consistent with the following:
(a) Any interruption in the teleconference or video broadcast of the hearing shall result in the suspension of action by the board until repairs are made and board access restored.
(b) The board shall make an audio recording of the hearing, if a teleconference medium is used, or an audio-visual recording, if the hearing is held by video means. The recording shall be preserved by the board for a period of three (3) years following the date of the hearing.
(c) Minutes of all hearings held by teleconference or video means shall be recorded as required otherwise by this section. Votes taken after any hearing conducted through teleconference or video means shall be recorded by name in roll-call fashion and included in the minutes.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.
