The House on Friday endorsed a compromise version of the headline criminal justice bill of the session, saying the measure will transform the court system in unprecedented ways.
The bill, S.295, creates a pretrial system that allows case managers to gather more information about people who have been arrested, in hopes of getting them the mental health and substance abuse services they need.
The governor emphasized the bill this session as a way to help opiate addicts, but the idea has been germinating for years among legislators, state officials and others wanting to reform the criminal justice system.
“This bill’s been growing,” said Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who played a key role in crafting the House version and served on the House-Senate conference committee.
The House and Senate versions differed slightly, but in two meetings, the conference committee settled their differences.
Legislators, including Lippert and his Senate counterpart Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, compromised on a section about the importation of drugs into Vermont. The bill makes it a crime to transport a gram or more of heroin with the intent to sell it.
Lawmakers also compromised on a section about burglary. They created stricter penalties for burglary who invade an occupied dwelling with a dangerous weapon. If someone is inside the house when a thief breaks in, that will be an “aggravating factor” considered by the judge during sentencing.
The House and Senate set Oct. 15 as the rollout date for pretrial services.
It is now up to the Senate to approve the final version.
