No. SB 1710
Filed under Criminal Justice.
Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsperson; Creating the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsperson within the Department of Corrections; establishing the Corrections Oversight Committee; authorizing the office to subpoena department records, employees, or contractors; requiring the office to conduct periodic inspections of department facilities; requiring the office to create an electronic family form and make it available on the office’s public website for a specified purpose, etc. APPROPRIATION: $1,500,000
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDThe bill creates a new Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsperson, led by a six-year term official selected by a bipartisan Corrections Oversight Committee. The Ombudsperson may only be removed by the Governor for good cause, insulating the office from routine political turnover.
The office gains the power to subpoena department records, employees, and contractors. It must inspect every prison at least once every three years, with maximum security facilities inspected annually. All inspection reports and complaint decisions must be published publicly on the office's website.
The department must provide the office with unrestricted access to all prison areas and must allow private, unmonitored communication between the office and incarcerated persons. The department is also required to respond in writing to every inspection report within 60 days with a corrective action plan.
The bill appropriates $1.5 million annually from the General Revenue Fund through the 2031-2032 fiscal year. It also mandates that total spending on the office must equal between 0.5 percent and 1 percent of the Department of Corrections' annual appropriation.
AIEstablishes a new office within the Department of Corrections that can compel the production of records and testimony from department staff and contractors.
AIRequires the office to enter all areas of correctional facilities with or without prior notice, inspect conditions, and publish the findings.
AIForbids department employees from listening to, recording, or witnessing private conversations between the office and incarcerated persons.
AICreates a bipartisan legislative committee that selects the Ombudsperson, holds public hearings, and can issue policy recommendations to the department and Governor.
AIObligates the department to hand over requested records within 20 days, or within 5 days for records involving death, assault, or medical denial.
AIRequires the office to build a public website form and a secure hotline for family members and incarcerated persons to file complaints without department monitoring.
AIForbids the department from firing, retaliating against, or discriminating against anyone who files a complaint with the office.
AIClarifies that filing a complaint with the office does not count as an administrative step required before suing under the Prison Litigation Reform Act.