HF 1399 Summary

• Creates the Office of Ombudsman for the Department of Corrections, appointed by the governor without regard to political affiliation, to investigate matters and promote competence and justice in corrections administration.

• Grants the ombudsman broad investigative powers including authority to receive complaints, access agency records and data, inspect facilities, subpoena witnesses, and make recommendations to correct administrative agency actions.

• Establishes that the ombudsman can investigate complaints from any source regarding actions of the Department of Corrections, Board of Pardons, and all types of correctional facilities (public and private), but excludes courts, legislature, governor's office, federal entities, and interstate compacts.

• Protects complainants from retaliation and requires unopened mail delivery between ombudsman and institutionalized persons; requires the ombudsman to report annually to the governor on functions and activities.

• Adds the ombudsman for corrections to the Group II salary limit structure (120 percent of governor's salary, adjusted annually) and appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 to administer the office.