A judiciary committee has redrafted state district court rules to bar judges from setting a bail bond higher than a defendant can afford for the sole purpose of keeping the person behind bars before trial.
The move Wednesday comes less than two months after state lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment with similar language that will go before voters for final approval in November.
Officials say the changes approved by the state Supreme Court's Pre-trial Release Committee at a meeting Wednesday aren't tied to the proposed constitutional amendment. The amendment also would allow judges to deny bail to defendants who are considered a danger to the public.
The committee's proposed changes must still be approved by state Supreme Court justices.
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