HB2167 Summary

• Establishes the Office of the Independent Corrections Ombudsman to conduct inspections, investigate complaints, and monitor conditions at state prison facilities and privately operated correctional facilities.

• Creates a Correctional Oversight Committee with 13 voting members (2 state senators, 2 state representatives, and 9 governor-appointed members representing inmates, advocates, medical professionals, and the public) plus 1 nonvoting member representing correctional staff; ombudsman appointed by majority committee vote for 6-year terms, removable only for good cause.

• Grants the Office authority to inspect facilities at least every two years (annually for maximum security), access all areas and inmates, investigate complaints related to inmate health/safety/welfare, and issue public reports with recommendations and facility safety ratings in three tiers.

• Defines "covered issues" as sanitation, nutrition, temperature, abuse/neglect, medical care, visitation, grievance processes, staffing, and other conditions affecting inmate rights under state and federal law.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 annually from the general fund for fiscal years 2021-2022 through 2030-2031; Office and Chapter 16 terminate July 1, 2031, with full repeal January 1, 2032.