HB 2255 Summary

• Requires the Department of Corrections to place incarcerated parents of minor children within 250 miles of their permanent address when possible, and establish rules allowing low and minimum security prisoners who are parents to receive contact visits with their children at least twice weekly.

• Limits male correctional officers from conducting searches of female prisoners who are in a state of undress, except when female officers are unavailable, and requires written justification submitted to the warden within 72 hours.

• Expands restrictions on use of restraints on pregnant prisoners through 30 days postpartum, prohibits placement in restrictive housing during pregnancy and 30 days after birth except for extraordinary circumstances, and requires body cavity searches only when reasonable belief of contraband exists.

• Requires correctional institutions to provide pregnant prisoners sufficient food and dietary supplements meeting prenatal nutritional guidelines, and mandates all necessary hygiene and nutritional products during the first 72 hours after birth for indigent prisoners at no cost.

• Requires training for correctional employees on pregnant prisoner health and fetus care, and educational programming for pregnant prisoners on prenatal care, parenting skills, and child health topics; allows newborns to remain with mothers for 72 hours after delivery unless health or safety risk exists.