Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB604 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0604
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 604
8	8	P1, E4 2lr1720
9	9	HB 1188/21 – JUD & HGO CF SB 512
10	10	By: Delegates Davis, Bartlett, Crutchfield, W. Fisher, Henson, Moon, Shetty, and
11	11	Terrasa
12	12	Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2022
13	13	Assigned to: Judiciary and Health and Government Operations
14	14
15	15	A BILL ENTITLED
16	16
17	17	AN ACT concerning 1
18	18
19	19	Office of the Attorney General – Correctional Ombudsman 2
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing the Correctional Ombudsman in the Office of the Attorney 3
22	22	General; requiring the Ombudsman to conduct investigations, reviews, and 4
23	23	assessments of administrative acts taken by the Department of Public Safety and 5
24	24	Correctional Services or in relation to individuals confined by the Department; 6
25	25	requiring the Ombudsman to refer certain matters for criminal charges or 7
26	26	disciplinary proceedings; providing for the confidentiality of certain communications 8
27	27	with the Ombudsman; establishing the Correctional Ombudsman Advisory Board; 9
28	28	prohibiting a person from obstructing the lawful exercise of the Ombudsman’s 10
29	29	powers; requiring the Ombudsman to conduct certain activities; and generally 11
30	30	relating to the Correctional Ombudsman. 12
31	31
32	32	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
33	33	Article – Correctional Services 14
34	34	Section 8–114 and 8–117 15
35	35	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
36	36	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 17
37	37
38	38	BY adding to 18
39	39	Article – State Government 19
40	40	Section 6–601 through 6–608 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6. Correctional 20
41	41	Ombudsman” 21
42	42	Annotated Code of Maryland 22
43	43	(2021 Replacement Volume) 23
44	44
45	45	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
46	46	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
47	47
48	48	Article – Correctional Services 26 2 HOUSE BILL 604
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	8–114. 1
53	53
54	54	(a) (1) If the Commission determines that a correctional facility is in violation 2
55	55	of the minimum mandatory standards, the Commission shall send a compliance plan to the 3
56	56	correctional facility. 4
57	57
58	58	(2) The compliance plan shall state: 5
59	59
60	60	(i) which minimum mandatory standards the correctional facility 6
61	61	has violated; 7
62	62
63	63	(ii) the time, to be determined by the Commission, that the 8
64	64	correctional facility has to address the violations; and 9
65	65
66	66	(iii) the date that the Commission shall reinspect the correctional 10
67	67	facility to determine if the correctional facility has complied with the minimum mandatory 11
68	68	standards. 12
69	69
70	70	(3) The Commission shall send a copy of the compliance plan to: 13
71	71
72	72	(I) the executive and legislative body responsible for the correctional 14
73	73	facility; AND 15
74	74
75	75	(II) THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 16
76	76
77	77	(b) (1) If, after sending a compliance plan and reinspecting a correctional 17
78	78	facility under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission determines that the 18
79	79	correctional facility is in violation of the minimum mandatory standards, the Commission 19
80	80	shall send a letter of reprimand to the correctional facility. 20
81	81
82	82	(2) The letter of reprimand shall state: 21
83	83
84	84	(i) which minimum standards the correctional facility has violated; 22
85	85
86	86	(ii) the time, to be determined by the Commission but not to exceed 23
87	87	60 days, that the correctional facility has to address the violations; and 24
88	88
89	89	(iii) the date that the Commission will reinspect the correctional 25
90	90	facility to determine if the correctional facility has complied with the minimum mandatory 26
91	91	standards. 27
92	92
93	93	(3) The Commission shall send a copy of the letter of reprimand to: 28
94	94
95	95	(I) the executive and legislative body responsible for the correctional 29
96	96	facility; AND 30 HOUSE BILL 604 3
97	97
98	98
99	99
100	100	(II) THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 1
101	101
102	102	(c) (1) If, after the Commission has sent a letter of reprimand to a correctional 2
103	103	facility under subsection (b) of this section and reinspected the facility, the Commission 3
104	104	determines that the correctional facility is in violation of the minimum mandatory 4
105	105	standards, the Commission shall: 5
106	106
107	107	(i) conduct a full standards and performance audit of the 6
108	108	correctional facility; or 7
109	109
110	110	(ii) periodically inspect the correctional facility until compliance is 8
111	111	attained and send a report of each inspection to the executive and legislative bodies 9
112	112	responsible for the correctional facility. 10
113	113
114	114	(2) When conducting a full standards and performance audit of a 11
115	115	correctional facility, the Commission shall examine: 12
116	116
117	117	(i) the physical condition of the correctional facility; 13
118	118
119	119	(ii) the safety and treatment of inmates at the correctional facility; 14
120	120
121	121	(iii) whether the correctional facility has policies and procedures in 15
122	122	place as required by the minimum mandatory standards; and 16
123	123
124	124	(iv) whether the correctional facility is following the required policies 17
125	125	and procedures. 18
126	126
127	127	(3) When conducting a full standards a nd performance audit, the 19
128	128	Commission shall have unrestricted access to the personnel and records of the correctional 20
129	129	facility. 21
130	130
131	131	(4) (i) If the Commission lacks the expertise necessary to perform a part 22
132	132	of the full standards and performance audit, the Commission may obtain assistance from 23
133	133	sources with expertise in the specific standard. 24
134	134
135	135	(ii) If the Commission needs to obtain assistance, the correctional 25
136	136	facility that is being audited shall reimburse the Commission for any cost incurred. 26
137	137
138	138	(5) (i) After completing a full standards and performance audit, the 27
139	139	Commission shall send a letter to the correctional facility. 28
140	140
141	141	(ii) The letter shall contain: 29
142	142
143	143	1. a copy of the audit findings, including details on all areas 30
144	144	where the correctional facility fails to comply with the minimum mandatory standards; 31
145	145	4 HOUSE BILL 604
146	146
147	147
148	148	2. a statement of what actions the correctional facility must 1
149	149	take in order to comply with the audit findings; 2
150	150
151	151	3. a date when the correctional facility must comply with the 3
152	152	audit findings; and 4
153	153
154	154	4. a statement that the Commission will conduct an 5
155	155	unannounced inspection of the correctional facility within a reasonable amount of time 6
156	156	after the date specified for compliance and that if the correctional facility fails to comply, 7
157	157	the Commission may seek a court order requiring compliance or order all or part of the 8
158	158	correctional facility to cease operations. 9
159	159
160	160	(iii) The Commission shall send a copy of the letter to: 10
161	161
162	162	1. the executive and legislative bodies responsible for the 11
163	163	correctional facility; AND 12
164	164
165	165	2. THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 13
166	166
167	167	(6) (I) Within a reasonable time after the date specified for compliance, 14
168	168	the Commission shall conduct an unannounced inspection to verify that the correctional 15
169	169	facility has complied with the audit findings. 16
170	170
171	171	(II) ON REQUEST BY THE COMMISSION, THE CORRECTIONAL 17
172	172	OMBUDSMAN SHALL CONDU CT AN UNANNOUNCED IN SPECTION TO VERIFY T HAT 18
173	173	THE CORRECTIONAL FAC ILITY HAS COMPLIED W ITH THE AUDIT FINDIN GS. 19
174	174
175	175	(d) (1) If, after performing an audit and unannounced inspection under 20
176	176	subsection (c) of this section and holding a hearing on the issue, the Commission determines 21
177	177	that a correctional facility has not complied with the audit findings, the Commission shall: 22
178	178
179	179	(i) petition a circuit court with venue over the proceeding for a court 23
180	180	order requiring the correctional facility to comply with the audit findings; or 24
181	181
182	182	(ii) issue an order to cease operation of the correctional facility or 25
183	183	any of its correctional elements, procedures, or functions. 26
184	184
185	185	(2) The Commission shall provide to a correctional facility reasonable 27
186	186	notice of a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 28
187	187
188	188	(3) The Commission may subpoena witnesses and hold public hearings in 29
189	189	accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article before making a final 30
190	190	decision on whether to seek a court order or close a correctional facility or any of its 31
191	191	correctional elements, procedures, or functions. 32
192	192
193	193	8–117. 33 HOUSE BILL 604 5
194	194
195	195
196	196
197	197	(A) The Commission may perform any acts necessary and appropriate to carry out 1
198	198	the powers and duties set forth in this subtitle. 2
199	199
200	200	(B) THE COMMISSION SHALL RECE IVE FROM AND SHARE W ITH THE 3
201	201	CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN INFORMATION RELATED TO ANY CONDI TION THAT 4
202	202	MAY ENDANGER THE LIF E OR HEALTH OF ANY P ERSON IN A CORRECTIO NAL 5
203	203	FACILITY. 6
204	204
205	205	Article – State Government 7
206	206
207	207	SUBTITLE 6. CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 8
208	208
209	209	6–601. 9
210	210
211	211	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 10
212	212	INDICATED. 11
213	213
214	214	(B) “ADMINISTRATIVE ACT ” MEANS ANY ACTION , DECISION, 12
215	215	ADJUDICATION , FAILURE TO ACT , OMISSION, RULE OR REGULATION , 13
216	216	INTERPRETATION , RECOMME NDATION, POLICY, PRACTICE, OR PROCEDURE OF AN 14
217	217	AGENCY. 15
218	218
219	219	(C) (1) “AGENCY” MEANS: 16
220	220
221	221	(I) THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND 17
222	222	CORRECTIONAL SERVICES; 18
223	223
224	224	(II) ANY OFFICER OR EMPLO YEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 19
225	225	PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES; 20
226	226
227	227	(III) ANY PERSON PROVIDING SER VICES UNDER A CONTRA CT 21
228	228	WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TO 22
229	229	INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONFINED BY OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF T HE 23
230	230	DEPARTMENT ; OR 24
231	231
232	232	(IV) ANY OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, OR ADMINISTRATIVE HE ARING 25
233	233	EXAMINER O F THE STATE OR A UNIT OF LO CAL GOVERNMENT WHO I S ACTING OR 26
234	234	PURPORTING TO ACT IN RELATION TO INDIVIDU ALS CONFINED BY OR U NDER THE 27
235	235	SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL 28
236	236	SERVICES. 29
237	237
238	238	(2) “AGENCY” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 30
239	239	6 HOUSE BILL 604
240	240
241	241
242	242	(I) A JUDGE, AS DEFINED BY § 1–101 OF THE COURTS ARTICLE; 1
243	243
244	244	(II) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR ANY MEMBE R, EMPLOYEE, OR 2
245	245	COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; OR 3
246	246
247	247	(III) THE GOVERNOR OR THE GOVERNOR’S PERSONAL STAFF . 4
248	248
249	249	(D) “OMBUDSMAN ” MEANS THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 5
250	250
251	251	(E) “RECORDS” MEANS ALL MATERIALS , REGARDLESS OF PHYSIC AL FORM 6
252	252	OR CHARACTERISTICS , CREATED, GENERATED , RECORDED, RECEIVED, POSSESSED, 7
253	253	OR CONTROLLED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY AGE NCY. 8
254	254
255	255	6–602. 9
256	256
257	257	THERE IS A CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY 10
258	258	GENERAL. 11
259	259
260	260	6–603. 12
261	261
262	262	(A) (1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL APPOINT THE OMBUDSMAN 13
263	263	WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE. 14
264	264
265	265	(2) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF 5 YEARS. 15
266	266
267	267	(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , THE OMBUDSMAN CONTINUES T O SERVE 16
268	268	UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIFIES . 17
269	269
270	270	(4) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH 18
271	271	THE VOTE OF A TWO –THIRDS MAJORITY OF E ACH CHAMBER , MAY REMOVE THE 19
272	272	OMBUDSMAN ONLY FOR : 20
273	273
274	274	(I) MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE ; 21
275	275
276	276	(II) A FELONY CONVICTION ; OR 22
277	277
278	278	(III) A PERSISTENT FAILURE BY THE OMBUDSMAN TO PERFORM 23
279	279	THE DUTIES OF THE OF FICE. 24
280	280
281	281	(B) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL: 25
282	282
283	283	(1) WITH RECOGNIZED JUDG MENT AND OBJECTIVITY ; 26
284	284	HOUSE BILL 604 7
285	285
286	286
287	287	(2) WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED INTEREST AND EXPERIE NCE IN ISSUES 1
288	288	RELATED TO CORRECTIO NS; 2
289	289
290	290	(3) WHO POSSESSES SKILL IN A NALYZING LAW , ADMINISTRATION , 3
291	291	AND PUBLIC POLICY ; AND 4
292	292
293	293	(4) WITH EXPERIENCE IN A T LEAST ONE OF THE F OLLOWING AREAS : 5
294	294
295	295	(I) LAW; 6
296	296
297	297	(II) AUDITING; 7
298	298
299	299	(III) GOVERNMENT OPERATION S; 8
300	300
301	301	(IV) INVESTIGATIONS ; 9
302	302
303	303	(V) SOCIAL WORK; OR 10
304	304
305	305	(VI) CONFLICT RESOLUTION . 11
306	306
307	307	(C) WHILE SERVING AS OMBUDSMAN , AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NO T: 12
308	308
309	309	(1) BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH ANY POLITICAL A CTIVITIES; 13
310	310
311	311	(2) PUBLICLY ENDORSE , SOLICIT FUNDS FOR , OR MAKE 14
312	312	CONTRIBUTIONS TO A P OLITICAL PARTY OR CA NDIDATE FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE; 15
313	313
314	314	(3) BE A CANDIDATE FOR O R HOLD ANY ELECTIVE OR APPOINTED 16
315	315	OFFICE; OR 17
316	316
317	317	(4) ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER OCCUPATION , BUSINESS, OR PROFESSION 18
318	318	LIKELY TO: 19
319	319
320	320	(I) DETRACT FROM THE FUL L–TIME PERFORMANCE OF THE 20
321	321	OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES; 21
322	322
323	323	(II) RESULT IN A CONFLIC T OF INTEREST; OR 22
324	324
325	325	(III) RESULT IN THE APPEAR ANCE OF IMPROPRIETY . 23
326	326
327	327	(D) (1) THE SALARY OF THE OMBUDSMAN IS EQUAL TO THE SALARY OF A 24
328	328	DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. 25
329	329	8 HOUSE BILL 604
330	330
331	331
332	332	(2) THE SALARY OF THE OMBUDSMAN MAY NOT BE DIMINISHED 1
333	333	DURING THE OMBUDSMAN ’S TERM OF OFFICE . 2
334	334
335	335	6–604. 3
336	336
337	337	(A) THE OMBUDSMAN , IN RESPONSE TO A COM PLAINT OR ON THE 4
338	338	OMBUDSMAN ’S INITIATIVE, SHALL: 5
339	339
340	340	(1) INVESTIGATE ANY ADMI NISTRATIVE ACT THAT THE OMBUDSMAN 6
341	341	DETERMINES MAY BE : 7
342	342
343	343	(I) CONTRARY TO LAW OR R EGULATION; 8
344	344
345	345	(II) BASED ON A MISTAKE O F FACT; 9
346	346
347	347	(III) UNSUPPORTED BY SUFFI CIENT EVIDENCE ; 10
348	348
349	349	(IV) PERFORMED IN AN INEF FICIENT MANNER ; 11
350	350
351	351	(V) UNREASONABLE UNDER T HE TOTALITY OF THE 12
352	352	CIRCUMSTANCES ; OR 13
353	353
354	354	(VI) OTHERWISE ERRONEOUS ; 14
355	355
356	356	(2) CONDUCT INDEPENDENT REVIEWS AND ASSESSME NTS OF: 15
357	357
358	358	(I) HEALTH SERV ICES PROVIDED TO IND IVIDUALS CONFINED 16
359	359	BY ANY AGENCY ; 17
360	360
361	361	(II) MENTAL HEALTH SERVIC ES PROVIDED TO INDIV IDUALS 18
362	362	CONFINED BY ANY AGEN CY; 19
363	363
364	364	(III) PLANS BY AGENCIES TO EXPAND, RENOVATE, OR CLOSE 20
365	365	FACILITIES; 21
366	366
367	367	(IV) EDUCATIONAL AND VOCA TIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 22
368	368	INDIVIDUALS CONFINED BY ANY AGENCY; AND 23
369	369
370	370	(V) AGENCY POLICIES ON R ESTRICTIVE OR PROTEC TIVE 24
371	371	HOUSING; 25
372	372
373	373	(3) COOPERATE WITH ANY A GENCY IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE 26
374	374	FUNCTIONING OF ANY A GENCY OR PREVENT ABU SES BY AGENCIES; 27 HOUSE BILL 604 9
375	375
376	376
377	377
378	378	(4) INSPECT ANY FACILITI ES OWNED OR CON TROLLED BY ANY 1
379	379	AGENCY TO MONITOR CO NDITIONS IN THE FACI LITIES; 2
380	380
381	381	(5) SEEK TO RESOLVE COMP LAINTS AGAINST AN AG ENCY THROUGH 3
382	382	MEDIATION OR OTHER C ONFLICT RESOLUTION M ETHODS; 4
383	383
384	384	(6) MAINTAIN A WEBSITE T HAT: 5
385	385
386	386	(I) SUBJECT TO THE REQUI REMENTS OF SUBSECTIO N (E) OF 6
387	387	THIS SECTION, MAKES CURRENT AND PA ST REPORTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ; 7
388	388	AND 8
389	389
390	390	(II) PROVIDES CONTACT INF ORMATION FOR THE OFFICE OF 9
391	391	THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN ; AND 10
392	392
393	393	(7) ADOPT REGULATIONS NE CESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE 11
394	394	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
395	395
396	396	(B) (1) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INVES TIGATE EACH COMPLAIN T ABOUT 13
397	397	AN ADMINISTRATIVE AC T, UNLESS THE OMBUDSMAN DETERMINES THAT: 14
398	398
399	399	(I) THE COMPLAINT COULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH 15
400	400	ANOTHER PROCESS ; 16
401	401
402	402	(II) THE COMPLAINT IS TRI VIAL, FRIVOLOUS, VEXATIOUS, OR 17
403	403	NOT MADE IN GOOD FAITH; 18
404	404
405	405	(III) THE COMPLAINANT UNRE ASONABLY DELAYED IN BRINGING 19
406	406	THE COMPLAINT ; 20
407	407
408	408	(IV) THE COMPLAINANT IS N OT PERSONALLY AFFECT ED BY THE 21
409	409	ADMINISTRATIVE ACT ; OR 22
410	410
411	411	(V) THE OMBUDSMAN LACKS SUFFI CIENT RESOURCES TO 23
412	412	INVESTIGATE THE COMP LAINT. 24
413	413
414	414	(2) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFOR M A COMPLAINANT OF A 25
415	415	DECISION NOT TO INVE STIGATE A COMPLAINT . 26
416	416
417	417	(3) ON REQUEST, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFOR M A COMPLAINANT 27
418	418	OF THE STATUS OF AN INVESTIGATION . 28
419	419	10 HOUSE BILL 604
420	420
421	421
422	422	(4) ON THE COMPLETION OF AN INVESTIGATION BAS ED ON A 1
423	423	COMPLAINT, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFORM T HE COMPLAINANT OF AN Y 2
424	424	CONCLUSIONS , RECOMMENDATIONS , AND ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE 3
425	425	COMPLAINT. 4
426	426
427	427	(C) IF THE OMBUDSMAN DETERMINES THAT AN EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF AN 5
428	428	AGENCY ACTED IN A MA NNER WARRANTING CRIM INAL CHARGES OR DISC IPLINARY 6
429	429	PROCEEDINGS , THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL REFER THE MATTER TO APPROP RIATE 7
430	430	AUTHORITIES. 8
431	431
432	432	(D) AN AGENCY MAY NOT : 9
433	433
434	434	(1) RESTRICT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S ABILITY TO: 10
435	435
436	436	(I) INTERVIEW AGENCY PER SONNEL OR ANY INDIVI DUAL 11
437	437	CONFINED BY AN AGENC Y; 12
438	438
439	439	(II) ACCESS ANY RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE AG ENCY; OR 13
440	440
441	441	(III) ACCESS ANY FACILITIE S OWNED OR CONTROLLE D BY THE 14
442	442	AGENCY; 15
443	443
444	444	(2) OPEN ANY CORRESPONDE NCE SENT: 16
445	445
446	446	(I) TO THE OMBUDSMAN BY A PERSON BEING CONFINED BY 17
447	447	THE AGENCY; OR 18
448	448
449	449	(II) BY THE OMBUDSMAN TO A PERSON BEING CONFINED BY 19
450	450	THE AGENCY; OR 20
451	451
452	452	(3) INTERFERE WITH , DELAY, OR MONITOR ANY COMMU NICATION 21
453	453	BETWEEN THE OMBUDSMAN AND A PERSO N BEING CONFINED BY THE AGENCY. 22
454	454
455	455	(E) IN PERFORMING THE DUT IES ASSIGNED UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE, THE 23
456	456	OMBUDSMAN SHALL TREAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS A S CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY 24
457	457	REVEAL THE DETAILS O F ANY COMMUNICATION ONLY IF IT IS: 25
458	458
459	459	(1) NECESSARY TO CARRY O UT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES; AND 26
460	460
461	461	(2) DONE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL 27
462	462	LAW. 28
463	463
464	464	(F) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY SUBPOEN A ANY INDIVIDUAL TO APPEAR TO GIVE 29 HOUSE BILL 604 11
465	465
466	466
467	467	SWORN TESTIMONY OR P RODUCE DOCUMENTARY E VIDENCE THAT IS REAS ONABLY 1
468	468	NECESSARY TO CARRY O UT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES. 2
469	469
470	470	(G) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY BRING A N ACTION IN THE CIRC UIT COURT TO 3
471	471	ENFORCE THE PROVISIO NS OF THIS SUBTITLE . 4
472	472
473	473	6–605. 5
474	474
475	475	(A) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER COMPLETING AN INVESTIGATION , THE 6
476	476	OMBUDSMAN SHALL SUBMI T TO AN AGENCY A REP ORT CONTAINING ANY 7
477	477	CONCLUSIONS , RECOMMENDATIONS , AND REQUESTS FOR A R ESPONSE FROM THE 8
478	478	AGENCY. 9
479	479
480	480	(B) IF THE REPORT SUBMITT ED TO AN AGENCY UNDE R THIS SECTION 10
481	481	CONTAINS A REQUEST F OR A RESPONSE FROM T HE AGENCY, THE AGENCY SHALL 11
482	482	PROVIDE A WRITTEN RE SPONSE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT O F THE REPORT. 12
483	483
484	484	(C) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY PROVIDE THE REPORT REQUIRED BY THIS 13
485	485	SECTION, AS WELL AS ANY RESPO NSES BY THE AGENCY , TO THE GOVERNOR OR , IN 14
486	486	ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 15
487	487
488	488	6–606. 16
489	489
490	490	(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL 17
491	491	REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, 18
492	492	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON: 19
493	493
494	494	(1) INVESTIGATIONS CONDU CTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN ; 20
495	495
496	496	(2) ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY AN AGENCY AS A RESUL T OF THE 21
497	497	CONCLUSIONS OR RECOM MENDATIONS OF THE OMBUDSMAN ; AND 22
498	498
499	499	(3) ANY INSTANCE WHERE A N AGENCY REJECTS A R ECOMMENDATION 23
500	500	OR CONCLUSION OF THE OMBUDSMAN . 24
501	501
502	502	(B) IN ADDITION TO THE RE PORT REQUIRED BY SUBSECTI ON (A) OF THIS 25
503	503	SECTION, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL PROVI DE TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 26
504	504	ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANY 27
505	505	OTHER REPORTS THAT T HE GOVERNOR OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY REQUIRE . 28
506	506
507	507	(C) A REPORT PREPARED UNDER THIS SECTION S HALL BE PUBLISHED ON 29
508	508	THE OMBUDSMAN ’S WEBSITE. 30
509	509	12 HOUSE BILL 604
510	510
511	511
512	512	6–607. 1
513	513
514	514	(A) IN THIS SECTION, “BOARD” MEANS THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN 2
515	515	ADVISORY BOARD. 3
516	516
517	517	(B) THERE IS A CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN ADVISORY BOARD. 4
518	518
519	519	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE 5
520	520	OMBUDSMAN AND ASSIST THE OMBUDSMAN IN IDENTIFY ING APPROPRIATE 6
521	521	MATTERS TO INVESTIGA TE. 7
522	522
523	523	(D) THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST O F 10 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE 8
524	524	ATTORNEY GENERAL. 9
525	525
526	526	(E) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL 10
527	527	ENSURE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF TH E BOARD INCLUDES REPRES ENTATIVES OF: 11
528	528
529	529	(1) FAMILY MEMBERS OF CO NFINED INDIVIDUALS ; 12
530	530
531	531	(2) RETURNING CITIZENS ; 13
532	532
533	533	(3) NONSUPERVISORY CORRE CTIONAL OFFICERS ; 14
534	534
535	535	(4) MEMBERS OF THE PUBLI C WITH A DEMONSTRATE D INTEREST IN 15
536	536	CORRECTIONS ; AND 16
537	537
538	538	(5) INDIVIDUALS WITH BAC KGROUNDS IN HEALTH C ARE AND SOCIAL 17
539	539	WORK. 18
540	540
541	541	(F) THE OFFICE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN SHALL PROVI DE 19
542	542	STAFF FOR THE BOARD. 20
543	543
544	544	6–608. 21
545	545
546	546	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT , BY THREAT , FORCE, OR CORRUPT MEANS , 22
547	547	OBSTRUCT, IMPEDE, OR TRY TO OBSTRUCT T HE LAWFUL EXERCISE OF THE 23
548	548	OMBUDSMAN ’S POWERS. 24
549	549
550	550	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUIL TY OF A MISDEMEANOR 25
551	551	AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONM ENT NOT EXCEEDING 1 YEAR OR A 26
552	552	FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR BOTH. 27
553	553
554	554	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 28 HOUSE BILL 604 13
555	555
556	556
557	557	Assembly that the Governor shall include in the State budget for fiscal year 2024 and each 1
558	558	subsequent fiscal year an appropriation in an amount sufficient to fund the provisions of 2
559	559	this Act and to provide for at least two staff members of the Office of the Correctional 3
560	560	Ombudsman in 2024 and at least seven staff members of the Office in 2025 and each 4
561	561	subsequent fiscal year. 5
562	562
563	563	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before De cember 31, 6
564	564	2022, the Correctional Ombudsman and the Commission on Correctional Standards shall 7
565	565	submit a joint report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 8
566	566	Government Article, the General Assembly detailing how the Office of the Correctional 9
567	567	Ombudsman and the Commission will coordinate in order to avoid overlap in their duties. 10
568	568
569	569	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before December 31, 11
570	570	2022, the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office shall report to the Correctional 12
571	571	Ombudsman, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 13
572	572	Article, the General Assembly on best practices for mediating grievances in the corrections 14
573	573	system. 15
574	574
575	575	SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 16
576	576	Assembly that, in its first year of operation, the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman 17
577	577	focus its activities primarily on those State correctional facilities located in the area of 18
578	578	Jessup, Maryland. 19
579	579
580	580	SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the int ent of the General 20
581	581	Assembly that, in its first year of operation, the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman 21
582	582	conduct an audit of programming and services provided by the Division of Corrections since 22
583	583	fiscal year 2019. This audit shall include, among other things, an examination of: 23
584	584
585	585	(1) inmates’ rates of participation in: 24
586	586
587	587	(i) educational and vocational training; 25
588	588
589	589	(ii) evidence–based behavioral health and substance abuse 26
590	590	counseling; and 27
591	591
592	592	(iii) mentoring and reentry programs; and 28
593	593
594	594	(2) any obstacles to inmates’ participation in programs provided by the 29
595	595	Division. 30
596	596
597	597	SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 31
598	598	1, 2022. 32
599	599