SB 713

This bill provides that any legislator who is a member of a standing committee of the legislature with jurisdiction over matters related to the Department of Corrections must be provided immediate access, upon request, to a tour of any state correctional institution that includes the residential areas, prison cells, meal areas, and discussions with inmates.

The bill also provides that any employee of a political subdivision who, in the course of his or her employment, is responsible for the oversight of a county jail must be provided immediate access, upon request, to a tour of any county jail under his or her oversight or any county jail that has at least one person in custody who is a permanent resident of the geographic region that the employee’s position oversees that includes the residential areas, prison cells, meal areas, and discussions with inmates.

For purposes of the bill, “immediate access” means access with less than 24 hours’ notice. Access may be denied only if it is between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. or if the requester has already had 12 access requests fulfilled in that calendar year. A person who is denied immediate access between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. must be provided access between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., and a person who is denied immediate access because he or she has already had 12 requests fulfilled in that calendar year must be provided access within 72 hours.