Signed by Governor Jon Corzine

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's amendments to a bill that establishes a criminal sentencing commission and repeals existing ones.

Highlights:

-Creates a "Criminal Sentencing and Disposition" commission to include 13 members who include: The Attorney General, or his designee; the Public Defender or his designee; the chief Justice, or a designee who may be a retired judge with experience in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court; the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, or his designee; The President of the New Jersey County Prosecutors Association, or his designee; The President of the New Jersey Bar Association, or his designee; one public member appointed by the Senate President; one public member appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; two public members appointed by the Governor (Sec. 1). -Requires the members to serve without compensation, but they shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purpose (Sec. 1). -Requires state entities to provide the commission with any available information concerning sentencing as soon as practicable (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the commission to consider issues regarding disparity in the criminal justice process, including but not limited to racial and ethnic disparity (Sec. 2). -Requires the commission to issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one-year of organization of the commission and each year thereafter (Sec. 4). -Requires this act to take effect immediately upon enactment (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with the governor's amendments to a bill that establishes a criminal sentencing commission and repeals existing ones.

Highlights:

-Creates a "Criminal Sentencing and Disposition" commission to include 13 members who include: The Attorney General, or his designee; the Public Defender or his designee; the chief Justice, or a designee who may be a retired judge with experience in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court; the Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, or his designee; The President of the New Jersey County Prosecutors Association, or his designee; The President of the New Jersey Bar Association, or his designee; one public member appointed by the Senate President; one public member appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader; one public member appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly; two public members appointed by the Governor (Sec. 1). -Requires the members to serve without compensation, but they shall be eligible for reimbursement for necessary and reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to the commission for its purpose (Sec. 1). -Requires state entities to provide the commission with any available information concerning sentencing as soon as practicable (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the commission to consider issues regarding disparity in the criminal justice process, including but not limited to racial and ethnic disparity (Sec. 2). -Requires the commission to issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one-year of organization of the commission and each year thereafter (Sec. 4). -Requires this act to take effect immediately upon enactment (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor Jon Corzine