HF 1038 Summary

• Establishes an Office of Ombudsman for Mental Health Services in Correctional or Detention Facilities, appointed by the governor to promote treatment standards and justice for incarcerated persons with mental illnesses.

• Ombudsman has authority to investigate decisions and actions of the Department of Corrections and regional/local corrections or detention facilities, including power to subpoena witnesses, examine records, and enter premises at any time.

• Ombudsman may receive complaints from any source, recommend corrective actions to agencies, and publish findings and recommendations to the governor after consulting with criticized agencies.

• Ombudsman has access to corrections, detention, and medical data classified as private or confidential when necessary to perform duties, notwithstanding other data privacy statutes.

• Designates ombudsman data as private, confidential, or public according to type; allows ombudsman to accept grants and employ staff as members of Minnesota State Retirement System.