ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
REVISED
state department of corrections; continuation
Continues the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) until July 1, 2012. Establishes the Corrections Oversight Committee.
Current law states that the ADC will terminate on July 1, 2002. Committees of Reference consisting of members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Public Institutions and Rural Affairs Committee were appointed to review ADC performance audits provided by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). The OAG showed that as of November 29, 2001, ADC incarcerated 27,800 inmates, operated ten major prison complexes, three private prisons and 20 parole offices, and included a work force of more than 10,600 throughout the State. Because the ADC was found to meet its overall objective and purpose, the Committee recommended that the ADC be continued for ten years. H.B. 2065 continues ADC until July 1, 2012 and establishes the Corrections Oversight Committee as well as the Committee's duties and membership requirements.
Any fiscal impact to the state relates to reimbursement of expenses to Corrections Oversight Committee members.
Continuation of ADC
1. Continues the ADC for ten years until July 1, 2012.
2. Contains a retroactivity clause of July 1, 2002.
Corrections Oversight Committee
3. Establishes the Corrections Oversight Committee.
4. Requires the Committee to review, monitor and make recommendations concerning the following:
a) The working conditions of and retention and turnover rates for correctional service officers and other employees of ADC.
b) Budget, spending priorities and funding issues related to ADC.
c) Any training, education and rehabilitation programs and services that are offered to incarcerated inmates and to inmates who are released from confinement.
d) The policies and practices of ADC relating to the treatment of family members of incarcerated inmates.
5. Requires the Committee to report its recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on or before December 31 of each year, and a copy must also be provided to the Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
6. Provides for membership of the Committee as follows:
a) Two members of the Senate who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the President of the Senate. One member serves as cochair.
b) Two members of the House of Representatives who are not members of the same political party, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. One member serves as cochair.
c) The Director of ADC or the Director's designee who is a nonvoting member and is not a member for the purposes of determining a quorum.
d) One representative of a prisoner advocacy organization, appointed by the Governor.
e) One representative of an organization that provides training or rehabilitation programs for incarcerated inmates, appointed by the Governor.
f) One representative of an organization that provides training or employment placement services to inmates after their release from confinement, appointed by the Governor.
g) One family member of an inmate who is in the custody of ADC, appointed by the Governor.
h) One representative of a victims' advocacy organization, appointed by the Governor.
7. States that all members who are appointed by the Governor shall serve three year terms.
8. Provides that the Committee shall meet as the cochairs deem necessary or on the call of the majority of the voting members.
9. Stipulates that Committee members are not eligible for compensation except for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to statute.
Joint Select Committee on Corrections Facilities
10. Renames the Joint Select Committee on Corrections as the Joint Select Committee on Corrections Facilities.
Miscellaneous
11. Provides for a general effective date, except as otherwise noted.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Establishes the Corrections Oversight Committee and its duties and membership requirements.
2. Renames the Joint Select Committee on Corrections as the Joint Select Committee on Corrections Facilities.
PIRA 1/22/02 DP 9-0-1-0 JUD 3/26/02 DP 6-0-2-0
3rd Read 2/5/02 56-0-4-0 3rd Read 4/17/02 25-2-3-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 22, 2002