ST. PAUL — The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission held a hearing Thursday on a proposed five-year cap on probation sentences.

The proposal comes from Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell, who says average probation terms vary widely across the state, depending on the judicial district where people are sentenced. Some probation sentences run for decades.

The proposed five-year cap on felony probation sentences for people with stayed prison sentences wouldn’t apply to people convicted of felony homicide and sex offenses.

The commission won’t take a vote until its meeting Jan. 9, when it finalizes its annual report to the Legislature, which will then get a chance to weigh in.

A probation cap passed the Democratic-controlled Minnesota House last session, but was not heard in the Republican-controlled Senate and did not become law.