The proposed bill seeks to establish the Office of the Independent Corrections Oversight Committee in Arizona, tasked with monitoring the rights and well-being of inmates in the state's prisons. It defines the scope of issues the Office will address, such as sanitation, abuse, and access to medical care, and outlines its powers, including conducting inspections, issuing reports, and subpoenaing records for investigations. The bill also sets up the structure for selecting and removing the Corrections oversight advisor and committee members, and mandates regular inspections and public reporting for transparency.

Significant changes include the requirement for the Office to classify prison facilities into three tiers based on safety and compliance, with varying re-inspection schedules. The bill expands the Office's authority to initiate investigations into inmate complaints and outlines the complaint process, including when the Office can decline to investigate. It establishes methods for submitting complaints, sets up hotlines, and prohibits retaliation against complainants. The Office must publish an annual report, and the bill specifies a termination date for the Office on July 1, 2033, with a repeal of the relevant chapter and section on January 1, 2034.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-3033.01, 41-2353, 41-2352, 41-2354, 41-2358, 41-2356, 41-2355, 41-2357, 12-821.01, 41-2359