FEMALE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS
House Bill 5618
Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Faunce
House Bill 5619
Sponsor: Rep. Bill McConico
Committee: Criminal Justice
Complete to 4-12-02
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5618 AND 5619 AS INTRODUCED 2-12-02
The bills would require the assignment of only female corrections officers or female resident unit officers in correctional facilities housing female prisoners. Specifically, the bills would do the following:
House Bill 5618 would amend Public Act 232 of 1953 (MCL 791.69b), known as the Department of Corrections Act, to require the DOC to assign only female employees to the position of corrections officer and resident unit officer in housing units of correctional facilities that house female prisoners. If the department determined that only females should also perform other positions in these facilities, then the department could only assign female employees to those positions. "Correctional facility" would be defined as a prison or camp under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Correctional Facilities.
House Bill 5619 would amend the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act (MCL 37.2202b) to specify that Section 202 of the act would not prohibit the DOC from assigning only female employees to the position of corrections officer and resident unit officer in housing units of state correctional facilities that house female prisoners. The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5618.
(Section 202 of the Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act, among other things, prohibits discrimination based on sex with regard to employment decisions or employment opportunities. It also prohibits the segregation or classification "against a person on the basis of sex with respect to a term, condition, or privilege of employment . . .")
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.