HB 1254

Abstract

Redistricting; population data; reallocationof prison populations. Provides for the preparation of adjustedpopulation data for redistricting and reapportionment purposes toreflect the reallocation of persons incarcerated in state and localcorrectional facilities. The bill provides that a person incarceratedin a state or local correctional facility whose legal residence priorto entering custody was located within the Commonwealth will be deemedto reside at such residence, and a person incarcerated in a stateor local correctional facility whose legal residence prior to enteringcustody was located outside of the Commonwealth or whose legal residenceprior to entering custody cannot be determined will be deemed toreside at the location of the facility in which he is incarcerated.Under the U.S. Census Bureau's current residence criteria, incarceratedpersons are counted at the facility in which they are incarcerated.The bill directs the Division of Legislative Services to preparethe adjusted population data, and the General Assembly and localgoverning bodies are required to use this data as the basis for reapportioningand drawing new districts. The Director of the Department of Correctionsand the Board of Corrections are required to provide to the Divisioncertain information about each person incarcerated who was incarceratedin a state or local correctional facility on the day the decennialcensus is taken, April 1 of a year ending in zero, for these purposes.