Bill > HB2494

This bill aims to reform criminal justice by reducing unnecessary arrests for minor offenses, such as petty misdemeanors and violations, by requiring law enforcement officers to issue citations, which are official notices to appear in court, instead of making arrests in most cases, unless there's a risk to public safety, a risk of the person fleeing, or the offense involves driving under the influence or domestic abuse. The bill also mandates that officers document the specific reasons for an arrest when a citation is not issued for these minor offenses, and it requires the Judiciary, the branch of government responsible for courts, to create a standardized citation form with updated information to improve court appearance rates and data collection. Furthermore, citations will now be visible on an offender's criminal record, and the Criminal Justice Research Institute will be responsible for submitting reports on the use of these citations to the legislature.