The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 concerning the Department of Corrections by renaming the position of Deputy Commissioner for Prisoner Rehabilitation to Deputy Commissioner for Inmate Rehabilitation and increasing the number of deputy commissioners from three to five. It introduces a provision allowing the Commissioner to appoint exempt employees necessary for departmental operations and constituent services. Additionally, it mandates that the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, in consultation with the Joint Prison Oversight Committee, employ an individual to assist the committee in its operations. The bill also modifies the responsibilities of the Joint Prison Oversight Committee to focus on long-term correctional needs and mental health issues for inmates reentering the community.

Furthermore, the bill addresses capacity issues within the Alabama Department of Corrections by establishing a committee to study and provide recommendations on various aspects of the correctional system. It deletes the requirement for the committee to report its findings by the fifteenth legislative day of each regular session, replacing it with a provision for reporting upon request or by majority vote. The committee will collaborate with stakeholders, including the Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Drug Abuse Task Force, to examine the design and operational capacity of correctional facilities and the services provided to inmates and their families. The bill emphasizes the importance of reflecting the state's diversity in its studies and partnerships and is set to take effect on June 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 14-1-1, 14-1-4
Engrossed: 14-1-1, 14-1-4
Enrolled: 14-1-1, 14-1-4