Finance committee  Yes, you're correct.

Finance committee  This amendment falls under the deficit reduction action plan, so this—

Finance committee  Again, it would be very difficult to determine, because each particular case may have different factors associated with it: different criminal record, different sentence length, involvement in programs, etc. It's a little complex to pull the demographics and associate—

Finance committee  That's why the board will still have the authority and the discretion to conduct a hearing. It just won't be required by law in these particular cases.

Finance committee  Yes. Even then, we're an independent tribunal, so we have a different relationship in terms of our legislative mandate. It's a little bit arm's length.

Finance committee  No, we weren't.

Finance committee  Our department was required to reduce our budget by 9.7%. We reviewed a number of areas. Our operations are very prescribed through legislation and regulations, so in terms of our ability to reduce our budget, again, from the analysis that was conducted, one of the options was looking at a legislative amendment similar to other departments that are here—

Finance committee  Well, I don't set the legislative agenda—

Finance committee  —so I wouldn't necessarily be able to....

Finance committee  Yes. Within the legislation we are required to have a hearing for these types of cases, and in approximately 50% of the cases the offenders will waive their right to a hearing.

Finance committee  That's right. The board will still retain the discretion to hold a hearing where it feels that it is warranted. There will likely continue to be cases where we'll hold a hearing where board members feel that it's warranted to have a hearing.

Finance committee  I would think so. The risk assessment is basically for each of the specific cases, and board members assess each of the factors within those cases.

Finance committee  That's right, and that currently occurs. Right now the law requires a hearing for post-suspension, termination, or revocation decisions, but in approximately half the cases offenders will waive their right to a hearing, and it is conducted by administrative review in-office. So this would remove the requirement in legislation for the board to conduct a hearing for those cases, but the board still retains the right to conduct a hearing where it deems that it's warranted, perhaps for more complex cases or where they deem that it's warranted to have an in-person hearing with the offender.

Finance committee  The board is still looking at the same information that is presented from correctional authorities.

Finance committee  The difference would be that the offender wouldn't have an in-person hearing with board members.