On page 27, after line 31, insert the following:
     "(g)(i) The legislature finds that public safety is one of the paramount duties of the state and an essential function of government. The legislature further finds that a serious crisis currently exists involving the early release of felons from total confinement into community custody, community placement, or community supervision who recidivate that presents an imminent and compelling threat to public safety. The legislature further finds that this crisis must be addressed expeditiously and unequivocally in order to rebuild public confidence in the state's ability to adequately protect them from criminal offenders who have been released from total incarceration but are still serving their sentences in the community.
     The legislature finds that earned release is a privilege; earned release is not an entitlement and does not create a liberty interest. The legislature therefore retains the ability to constrain the department's discretion with respect to awarding earned release credits to any offender under the department's jurisdiction.
     (ii) For a period of twelve months beginning on the effective date of this act, the department, in exercising its discretion under this section, may not award earned release credits to any offenders convicted of a sex offense;"