PROBATION: H.S. DIPLOMA OR G.E.D. H.B. 4434: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
House Bill 4434 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Virgil Smith
House Committee: Criminal Justice
Senate Committee: Judiciary
Date Completed: 5-3-04
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to allow a court to require a probationer, as a condition of probation, to complete his or her high school education or obtain the equivalency of a high school education in the form of a general education development (GED) certificate.
The Code lists conditions that must be included in a sentence of probation and allows the court to require other conditions. The bill would include completion of high school education or obtaining a GED certificate in the list of conditions that a court may require.
MCL 771.3 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. If the bill brought statute in line with current judicial practice, it would have no fiscal impact. If the bill, however, would encourage additional judges to require GED or high school completion as a condition of probation, assuming GED or high school completion reduces recidivism, it would potentially decrease long-term criminal justice costs.
To the extent that offenders did not fulfill the additional condition of probation, and therefore would potentially receive additional sanctions, the bill also could create additional corrections costs.
Fiscal Analyst: Bethany Wicksall
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb4434/0304