WOMEN'S PRISON OVERSIGHT CMTE.                                                     S.B. 831 (S-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                     REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 831 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:  Senator Erika Geiss

Committee:  Judiciary and Public Safety

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 46 of 1975, which provides for the Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman in the Legislative Council and authorizes the Ombudsman to conduct investigations regarding prisoners under the jurisdiction of, or committed to, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC), to do the following:

-- Create the Women's Prison Oversight Advisory Committee within the Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman and prescribe the membership and duties of the Advisory Committee.

-- Require the Advisory Committee to monitor certain areas affecting female prisoners, including conditions of confinement, and report any issues to the Ombudsman.

-- Require the Advisory Committee to advise the Ombudsman on best practices for the MDOC to implement confinement conditions and issues affecting female prisoners in correctional facilities.

-- Require the Legislature to appropriate to the Office sufficient funds necessary to implement the bill.

-- Require the MDOC to grant a member of the Advisory Committee entrance to inspect and tour a correctional facility that housed female prisoners if the member were accompanied by a full-time employee of the Ombudsman.

MCL 4.351 et al.                                                    Legislative Analyst:  Stephen Jackson

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Office of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman; however, the bill would require the Legislature to appropriate the necessary funding to implement the proposed changes. The bill would create the Women's Prison Oversight Advisory Committee within the Office. Committee members would not receive a salary but would be eligible for reimbursement for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as members.  

The bill does not specify what would be required of the Legislative Corrections Ombudsman regarding clerking duties for the Committee. Based on fiscal year 2019-20 data, the current estimated average annual cost for 1.0 FTE for a classified State employee is $123,000 gross, $62,600 General Fund/General Purpose for salary and benefits. This estimate could be higher or lower depending on the classification level of the FTEs hired. The cost (based on other similar commissions and committees) for member reimbursements for necessary expenses incurred averages less than $50,000 annually.

Date Completed:  10-21-20                                                 Fiscal Analyst:  Joe Carrasco

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.