1   HB106
2   208096-3
3   By Representative England
4   RFD: Judiciary
5   First Read: 02-FEB-21
6   PFD: 01/26/2021
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                                  HB106
1
2    ENROLLED, An Act,
3              Relating to the Department of Corrections; to add
4    Section 14-1-21 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to require the
5    department to make quarterly reports to the Joint Legislative
6    Prison Oversight Committee and to provide for additional
7    reporting requirements; to add Section 29-2-20.1 to the Code
8    of Alabama 1975, to further provide for the meetings of the
9    Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee; and to amend
10   Section 14-3-13, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the
11   correctional officer oath of office.
12   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
13             Section 1. Section 14-1-21 is added to the Code of
14   Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
15             14-1-21.
16             (a) In addition to any reporting requirements under
17   existing law, the Alabama Department of Corrections shall
18   provide to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee
19   quarterly reports that include all of the following:
20             (1) A report containing statistical data that would
21   allow the Legislature to assess the size or composition of the
22   inmate population.
23             (2) A report containing statistical data that would
24   allow the Legislature to assess the general status of
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1    correctional officer staffing levels, including new hires and
2    retention between reporting periods.
3              (3) A report containing statistical data, by sex, of
4    inmate participation in educational, vocational, religious, or
5    reentry programs.
6              (4) A list of all litigation filed during the
7    quarter involving the department, or any of its employees that
8    relates to performance of his or her employment, to include
9    the case style, case number, court, date of filing, and the
10   amount of money paid by the department to defend such
11   litigation.
12             (5)a. A report containing statistical data of all
13   occurrences of sexual abuse and sexual victimization of
14   inmates in a correctional facility that are reported to the
15   department. For each incident, the department shall designate
16   whether the investigation is pending or complete. If the
17   investigation is complete, the department shall provide
18   whether the incident was found to be substantiated,
19   unsubstantiated, or unfounded.
20             b. Reports shall include the date, facility, nature
21   of the incident, and the number of inmates, correctional
22   staff, or contractors involved in the incident.
23             (6)a. A report containing statistical data on the
24   number, manner, and cause of inmate deaths occurring in a
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1    correctional facility, including the results of any autopsy
2    provided to the department by a third party.
3              b. Reports shall include the date, facility, nature
4    of the incident, and the number of inmates, correctional
5    staff, or contractors involved in the incident.
6              (7)a. A report containing statistical data of cell
7    phones or other electronic devices, weapons, and controlled
8    substances recovered within a correctional facility.
9              b. Reports shall include the date, facility, nature
10   of the incident, and the number of inmates, correctional
11   staff, or contractors involved in the incident.
12             (b) Nothing in this section shall require the
13   department to disclose sensitive security information,
14   information from open criminal investigative files, material
15   protected by attorney-client privilege, executive privilege,
16   work product doctrine or that reveals legal strategy in
17   pending litigation, information prepared for or filed under
18   seal in any court proceeding, or information otherwise
19   protected from disclosure by law.
20             (c) This report shall be made publicly available on
21   the department's website within 10 days of its delivery to the
22   joint oversight committee at which time a digital notice of
23   posting shall be sent to each member of the Legislature.
24             Section 2. Section 29-2-20.1 is added to the Code of
25   Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
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1              29-2-20.1.
2              The Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee,
3    created in Section 29-2-20, shall meet quarterly to perform
4    its duties, including review and discussion of reports
5    submitted to the committee. At least one meeting each year
6    shall include an opportunity for public testimony.
7              Section 3. Section 14-3-13, Code of Alabama 1975, is
8    amended to read as follows:
9              "14-3-13.
10             "Every correctional officer and guard shall, before
11   entering on performing the duties of his or her office, shall
12   take and subscribe before some an officer authorized to
13   administer oaths, the following oath:
14             ""I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the
15   case may be) that I will support the Constitution of the
16   United States and the Constitution of the State of Alabama, so
17   long as I remain a citizen thereof; that I will faithfully
18   execute and discharge all the duties required of me as _____
19   (designating the office), and observe all the rules and
20   regulations prescribed of the department for the government
21   care and rehabilitation of convicts prisoners, so far as
22   concerns my office; and will, in no case, ill treat or abuse
23   any convict prisoner under my charge or control, nor inflict
24   upon him or her any other or greater punishment than may be
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1   prescribed by said rules and the law or the regulations of the
2   department. So help me God."
3             Section 4. Section 1 Sections 1 and 2 of this act
4   shall become effective on the first day of the third month
5   following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its
6   otherwise becoming law; Section 2 3 of this act shall become
7   effective immediately following its passage and approval by
8   the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.
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                                  HB106
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2
3
4                 Speaker of the House of Representatives
5
6                President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
 7                      House of Representatives
 8             I hereby certify that the within Act originated in
 9   and was passed by the House 09-MAR-21, as amended.
10
11                                 Jeff Woodard
12                                 Clerk
13
14
15
16    Senate                17-MAY-21                        Passed
17
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Statutes affected: Introduced: 14-1-21
Engrossed: 14-1-21
Enrolled: 14-1-21