A similar tale to that of SB 629 seems to be playing out with the bill to form the Smart on Crime Task Force. Working with Rep. Jeff Barker and others, Rep. Chip Shields was able to craft compromise language which appeased opponents of the bill. The new bill – HB 3563 [1] – has passed the Public Safety Subcommittee, and should be acted on by the full Ways and Means Committee this week before going to the floor of the House and Senate for a vote. While the name changes to the Task Force on Public Safety Strategies, the intent remains the same – to focus legislative attention on strategies to reduce crime, victimization and the ever-increasing cost of our corrections system.