SB 731

This bill requires the Department of Corrections to ensure that all state

correctional institutions provide, and sheriffs to ensure that all county jails and

houses of correction provide, recreational opportunities and organized, structured

programming that is relevant to the interests and needs of the inmates being held

in the state correctional institutions, jails, and houses of correction.

The bill also requires that when staffing levels meet or exceed 80 percent for

officer staffing and structured programming staffing, each inmate is allowed at least

35 hours per week to engage in recreational opportunities and structured

programming with an average of at least five total hours per day for such activities

and programming, and if such staffing levels are less than 80 percent, each inmate

is allowed at least 21 hours per week to engage in recreational opportunities and

structured programming with an average of at least three total hours per day for

such activities and programming. Of the 35 or 21 hours per week, each inmate must

be allowed at least seven hours per week to engage in recreational opportunities and

at least 14 hours per week to engage in structured programming, of which at least

five hours must be structured programming other than work experience. Under the

bill, recreation and structured programming privileges may be denied for a period

of up to 10 consecutive days if the inmate is subject to a partial or full prison or jail

lockdown or is currently being held in solitary confinement.