HB519 Summary

• Creates the Commission on Girls and Women in the Criminal Justice System composed of 27 members including 3 representatives from each house, state agency directors, judges, and representatives from advocacy organizations.

• Commission shall study conditions affecting girls and women in Alabama's criminal justice system through facility inspections, beneficiary panels, focus groups, and review of best practices to develop evidence-based recommendations.

• Commission shall conduct walk-through inspections of women's correctional and female youth facilities with unimpeded access to public records and make recommendations for gender-specific risk assessments, reporting procedures, and policies to enhance gender responsiveness.

• Commission shall submit annual reports to the Legislature and Governor at least 20 days before each regular session detailing the continuum of care for female offenders and adjudicated youth, system gaps, resource needs, and optional cost-benefit analyses of incarceration alternatives.

• Citizen members receive daily expense and mileage allowances; legislative members receive regular compensation and per diem; state officials receive no compensation but can be reimbursed for expenses; act becomes effective three months after passage.