The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance the structure and operations of the Department of Corrections. It renames the position of Deputy Commissioner for Prisoner Rehabilitation to Deputy Commissioner for Inmate Rehabilitation and increases the maximum number of deputy commissioners from three to five. A new provision allows the Commissioner to appoint exempt employees as needed for departmental operations. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts, in collaboration with the Joint Prison Oversight Committee, must employ an individual to assist the committee in its functions.

Moreover, the bill modifies the responsibilities of the Joint Prison Oversight Committee, shifting its focus to long-term correctional needs and mental health issues for inmates reentering society. It removes the previous requirement for the committee to report findings by the fifteenth legislative day of each session, allowing reports to be made upon request or by majority vote instead. The committee is tasked with collaborating with various stakeholders, including the Department of Mental Health and the Alabama Drug Abuse Task Force, to assess correctional facility capacities and services for inmates and their families. The bill emphasizes the importance of 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