Bill Summary

by Valdés

Office of the Corrections Ombudsman: Creates Office of Corrections Ombudsman within legislative branch; provides for staff; specifies duties of office; provides for appointment of Corrections Ombudsman; requires that Ombudsman meet certain criteria; requires Legislature to establish Corrections Oversight Committee on or before certain date; provides duties & membership of committee; requires DOC to provide Ombudsman & committee members with access to certain department facilities & records; authorizes Ombudsman & committee members access to such facilities unannounced; requires confidentiality of in-person communications between incarcerated persons or facility staff members & Ombudsman or committee member; provides that correspondence between incarcerated person & office is privileged; provides that decision, or failure, to file complaint with office does not impact inmate grievance procedure; provides that office need not investigate or process complaints in order received; requires office to submit to President of Senate & Speaker of House of Representatives specified report annually; provides appropriation. Effective Date: July 1, 2026

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