Bill > S2053

This bill requires the preparation and inclusion of a "racial and ethnic impact statement" for certain legislative proposals and administrative rules that could affect the number of people in pretrial detention, sentencing, probation, or parole. A racial and ethnic impact statement is a statistical analysis designed to help policymakers understand how proposed changes in criminal justice policy might disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, similar to how fiscal or environmental impact statements assess economic or ecological consequences. Specifically, for bills and resolutions, the Office of Legislative Services will prepare this statement before any vote is taken, and for proposed agency rules, the agency must issue the statement as part of the public notice, with the Criminal Sentencing and Disposition Commission reviewing it and potentially consulting with the agency if adverse impacts are identified. This requirement is being added to existing law that governs the rule-making process for state agencies, ensuring that potential racial and ethnic disparities are considered before policies are enacted.