On March 21, 2024, the Michigan Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety heard testimony on Senate Bill (SB) 599. Policy Advocacy Manager Jazmine Wells submitted written testimony to demonstrate support of the bill and urge committee members to do so as well.
Parole for medically frail people allows MDOC to 1) focus on its core functions (instead of complex health care needs), 2) transition medically frail people into more appropriate care, and 3) shift the cost of their care from the General Fund to Medicaid (70% federal dollars), or Medicare or private insurance in some cases. SB 599 makes important changes to the original Medically Frail Parole statute that are needed to help the original law function as intended.
Download>> SJM Written Testimony SB 599_03212024
Justin Counts, SJM’s former development fellow, also testified in support of the bill.
Download>> Written Testimony Justin Counts_SB 599_03212024