HB 419 Summary

• Creates a Citizens Oversight Council as an advisory body within the Department of Corrections with 16 members appointed equally by the President and Minority Leader of the Senate and Speaker and Minority Leader of the House, with staggered 4-year terms beginning by October 1, 2020

• Grants council members the right to conduct unannounced visits to all adult and juvenile correctional facilities, including private contractor facilities, and to interview prisoners, juveniles, staff, and families in confidential settings

• Authorizes council members to make recommendations to classification teams regarding close management, administrative confinement, and disciplinary hearings while prohibiting interference with day-to-day operations

• Requires membership to include, to the greatest extent possible, former prisoners, persons directly impacted by the correctional system, and criminal justice or prison reform advocates, with members appointed equally across department regions

• Restricts council members from disclosing council business or findings to the media or persons outside the council, and provides for reimbursement of per diem and travel expenses without compensation