Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB512 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 MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0512
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 512
8	8	P1, E4 2lr1719
9	9	SB 809/21 – JPR CF 2lr1720
10	10	By: Senator Hettleman
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Office of the Attorney General – Correctional Ombudsman 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of establishing the Correctional Ombudsman in the Office of the Attorney 3
21	21	General; requiring the Ombudsman to conduct investigations, reviews, and 4
22	22	assessments of administrative acts taken by the Department of Public Safety and 5
23	23	Correctional Services or in relation to individuals confined by the Department; 6
24	24	requiring the Ombudsman to refer certain matters for criminal charg es or 7
25	25	disciplinary proceedings; providing for the confidentiality of certain communications 8
26	26	with the Ombudsman; establishing the Correctional Ombudsman Advisory Board; 9
27	27	prohibiting a person from obstructing the lawful exercise of the Ombudsman’s 10
28	28	powers; requiring the Ombudsman to conduct certain activities; and generally 11
29	29	relating to the Correctional Ombudsman. 12
30	30
31	31	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 13
32	32	Article – Correctional Services 14
33	33	Section 8–114 and 8–117 15
34	34	Annotated Code of Maryland 16
35	35	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 17
36	36
37	37	BY adding to 18
38	38	Article – State Government 19
39	39	Section 6–601 through 6–608 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 6. Correctional 20
40	40	Ombudsman” 21
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 22
42	42	(2021 Replacement Volume) 23
43	43
44	44	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
45	45	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
46	46
47	47	Article – Correctional Services 26
48	48	2 SENATE BILL 512
49	49
50	50
51	51	8–114. 1
52	52
53	53	(a) (1) If the Commission determines that a correctional facility is in violation 2
54	54	of the minimum mandatory standards, the Commission shall send a compliance plan to the 3
55	55	correctional facility. 4
56	56
57	57	(2) The compliance plan shall state: 5
58	58
59	59	(i) which minimum mandatory standards the correctional facility 6
60	60	has violated; 7
61	61
62	62	(ii) the time, to be determined by the Commission, that the 8
63	63	correctional facility has to address the violations; and 9
64	64
65	65	(iii) the date that the Commission shall reinspect the correctional 10
66	66	facility to determine if the correctional facility has complied with the minimum mandatory 11
67	67	standards. 12
68	68
69	69	(3) The Commission shall send a copy of the compliance plan to: 13
70	70
71	71	(I) the executive and legislative body responsible for the correctional 14
72	72	facility; AND 15
73	73
74	74	(II) THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 16
75	75
76	76	(b) (1) If, after sending a compliance plan and reinspecting a correctional 17
77	77	facility under subsection (a) of this section, the Commission determines that the 18
78	78	correctional facility is in violation of the minimum mandatory standards, the Commission 19
79	79	shall send a letter of reprimand to the correctional facility. 20
80	80
81	81	(2) The letter of reprimand shall state: 21
82	82
83	83	(i) which minimum standards the correctional facility has violated; 22
84	84
85	85	(ii) the time, to be determined by the Commission but not to exceed 23
86	86	60 days, that the correctional facility has to address the violations; and 24
87	87
88	88	(iii) the date that the Commission will reinspect the correctional 25
89	89	facility to determine if the correctional facility has complied with the minimum mandatory 26
90	90	standards. 27
91	91
92	92	(3) The Commission shall send a copy of the letter of reprimand to: 28
93	93
94	94	(I) the executive and legislative body responsible for the correctional 29
95	95	facility; AND 30
96	96	SENATE BILL 512 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	(II) THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 1
100	100
101	101	(c) (1) If, after the Commission has sent a letter of reprimand to a correctional 2
102	102	facility under subsection (b) of this section and reinspected the facility, the Commission 3
103	103	determines that the correctional facility is in violation of the minimum mandatory 4
104	104	standards, the Commission shall: 5
105	105
106	106	(i) conduct a full standards and performance audit of the 6
107	107	correctional facility; or 7
108	108
109	109	(ii) periodically inspect the correctional facility until compliance is 8
110	110	attained and send a report of each inspection to the executive and legislative bodies 9
111	111	responsible for the correctional facility. 10
112	112
113	113	(2) When conducting a full standards and performance audit of a 11
114	114	correctional facility, the Commission shall examine: 12
115	115
116	116	(i) the physical condition of the correctional facility; 13
117	117
118	118	(ii) the safety and treatment of inmates at the correctional facility; 14
119	119
120	120	(iii) whether the correctional facility has policies and procedures in 15
121	121	place as required by the minimum mandatory standards; and 16
122	122
123	123	(iv) whether the correctional facility is following the required policies 17
124	124	and procedures. 18
125	125
126	126	(3) When conducting a full standards and performance audit, the 19
127	127	Commission shall have unrestricted access to the personnel and records of the correctional 20
128	128	facility. 21
129	129
130	130	(4) (i) If the Commission lacks the expertise necessary to perform a part 22
131	131	of the full standards and performance audit, the Commission may obtain assistance from 23
132	132	sources with expertise in the specific standard. 24
133	133
134	134	(ii) If the Commission needs to obtain assistance, the correctional 25
135	135	facility that is being audited shall reimburse the Commission for any cost incurred. 26
136	136
137	137	(5) (i) After completing a full standards and performance audit, the 27
138	138	Commission shall send a letter to the correctional facility. 28
139	139
140	140	(ii) The letter shall contain: 29
141	141
142	142	1. a copy of the audit findings, including details on all areas 30
143	143	where the correctional facility fails to comply with the minimum mandatory standards; 31
144	144	4 SENATE BILL 512
145	145
146	146
147	147	2. a statement of what actions the correctional facility must 1
148	148	take in order to comply with the audit findings; 2
149	149
150	150	3. a date when the correctional facility must comply with the 3
151	151	audit findings; and 4
152	152
153	153	4. a statement that the Commission will conduct an 5
154	154	unannounced inspection of the correctional facility within a reasonable amount of time 6
155	155	after the date specified for compliance and that if the correctional facility fails to comply, 7
156	156	the Commission may seek a court order requiring compliance or order all or part of the 8
157	157	correctional facility to cease operations. 9
158	158
159	159	(iii) The Commission shall send a copy of the letter to: 10
160	160
161	161	1. the executive and legislative bodies responsible for the 11
162	162	correctional facility; AND 12
163	163
164	164	2. THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 13
165	165
166	166	(6) (I) Within a reasonable time after the date specified for compliance, 14
167	167	the Commission shall conduct an unannounced inspection to verify that the correctional 15
168	168	facility has complied with the audit findings. 16
169	169
170	170	(II) ON REQUEST BY THE COMMISSION, THE CORRECTIONAL 17
171	171	OMBUDSMAN S HALL CONDUCT AN UNAN NOUNCED INSPECTION T O VERIFY THAT 18
172	172	THE CORRECTIONAL FAC ILITY HAS COMPLIED W ITH THE AUDIT FINDIN GS. 19
173	173
174	174	(d) (1) If, after performing an audit and unannounced inspection under 20
175	175	subsection (c) of this section and holding a hearing on the issue, the Commission determines 21
176	176	that a correctional facility has not complied with the audit findings, the Commission shall: 22
177	177
178	178	(i) petition a circuit court with venue over the proceeding for a court 23
179	179	order requiring the correctional facility to comply with the audit findings; or 24
180	180
181	181	(ii) issue an order to cease operation of the correctional facility or 25
182	182	any of its correctional elements, procedures, or functions. 26
183	183
184	184	(2) The Commission shall provide to a correctional facility reasonable 27
185	185	notice of a hearing under paragraph (1) of this subsection. 28
186	186
187	187	(3) The Commission may subpoena witnesses and hold public hearings in 29
188	188	accordance with Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the State Government Article before making a final 30
189	189	decision on whether to seek a court order or close a correctional facility or any of its 31
190	190	correctional elements, procedures, or functions. 32
191	191
192	192	8–117. 33 SENATE BILL 512 5
193	193
194	194
195	195
196	196	(A) The Commission may perform any acts necessary and appropriate to carry out 1
197	197	the powers and duties set forth in this subtitle. 2
198	198
199	199	(B) THE COMMISSION SHALL RECE IVE FROM AND SHARE WITH THE 3
200	200	CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN INFORMATION RELATED TO ANY CONDI TION THAT 4
201	201	MAY ENDANGER THE LI FE OR HEALTH OF ANY PER SON IN A CORRECTIONA L 5
202	202	FACILITY. 6
203	203
204	204	Article – State Government 7
205	205
206	206	SUBTITLE 6. CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 8
207	207
208	208	6–601. 9
209	209
210	210	(A) IN THIS SUBTI TLE THE FOLLOWING WO RDS HAVE THE MEANING S 10
211	211	INDICATED. 11
212	212
213	213	(B) “ADMINISTRATIVE ACT ” MEANS ANY ACTION , DECISION, 12
214	214	ADJUDICATION , FAILURE TO ACT , OMISSION, RULE OR REGULATION , 13
215	215	INTERPRETATION , RECOMMENDATION , POLICY, PRACTICE, OR PROCEDURE OF AN 14
216	216	AGENCY. 15
217	217
218	218	(C) (1) “AGENCY” MEANS: 16
219	219
220	220	(I) THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND 17
221	221	CORRECTIONAL SERVICES; 18
222	222
223	223	(II) ANY OFFICER OR EMPLO YEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 19
224	224	PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES; 20
225	225
226	226	(III) ANY PERSON PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER A CON TRACT 21
227	227	WITH THE DEPARTMENT O F PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES TO 22
228	228	INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CONFINED BY OR UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF T HE 23
229	229	DEPARTMENT ; OR 24
230	230
231	231	(IV) ANY OFFICER, EMPLOYEE, OR ADMINISTRATIVE HE ARING 25
232	232	EXAMINER OF THE STATE OR A UNIT OF LO CAL GOVERNMENT WHO I S ACTING OR 26
233	233	PURPORTING TO ACT IN RELA TION TO INDIVIDUALS CONFINED BY OR UNDER THE 27
234	234	SUPERVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONAL 28
235	235	SERVICES. 29
236	236
237	237	(2) “AGENCY” DOES NOT INCLUDE : 30
238	238	6 SENATE BILL 512
239	239
240	240
241	241	(I) A JUDGE, AS DEFINED BY § 1–101 OF THE COURTS ARTICLE; 1
242	242
243	243	(II) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OR ANY MEMBE R, EMPLOYEE, OR 2
244	244	COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; OR 3
245	245
246	246	(III) THE GOVERNOR OR THE GOVERNOR’S PERSONAL STAFF . 4
247	247
248	248	(D) “OMBUDSMAN ” MEANS THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN . 5
249	249
250	250	(E) “RECORDS” MEANS ALL MATERIALS , REGARDLESS OF PHYSIC AL FORM 6
251	251	OR CHARACTERISTICS, CREATED, GENERATED , RECORDED, RECEIVED, POSSESSED, 7
252	252	OR CONTROLLED BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY AGE NCY. 8
253	253
254	254	6–602. 9
255	255
256	256	THERE IS A CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY 10
257	257	GENERAL. 11
258	258
259	259	6–603. 12
260	260
261	261	(A) (1) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL APPOINT THE OMBUDSMAN 13
262	262	WITH THE ADVICE AND CONSENT OF THE SENATE. 14
263	263
264	264	(2) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL SERVE FOR A TERM OF 5 YEARS. 15
265	265
266	266	(3) AT THE END OF A TERM , THE OMBUDSMAN CONTINUES T O SERVE 16
267	267	UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED AND QUALIF IES. 17
268	268
269	269	(4) THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH 18
270	270	THE VOTE OF A TWO –THIRDS MAJORITY OF E ACH CHAMBER , MAY REMOVE THE 19
271	271	OMBUDSMAN ONLY FOR : 20
272	272
273	273	(I) MISCONDUCT IN OFFICE ; 21
274	274
275	275	(II) A FELONY CONVICTION ; OR 22
276	276
277	277	(III) A PERSISTENT FAILURE BY THE OMBUDSMAN TO PERFORM 23
278	278	THE DUTIES OF THE OF FICE. 24
279	279
280	280	(B) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL BE AN INDIVIDUAL: 25
281	281
282	282	(1) WITH RECOGNIZED JUDG MENT AND OBJECTIVITY ; 26
283	283	SENATE BILL 512 7
284	284
285	285
286	286	(2) WHO HAS DEMONSTRATED INTEREST AND EXPERIE NCE IN ISSUES 1
287	287	RELATED TO CORRECTIO NS; 2
288	288
289	289	(3) WHO POSSESSES SKILL IN ANALYZING LAW , ADMINISTRATION , 3
290	290	AND PUBLIC POLICY ; AND 4
291	291
292	292	(4) WITH EXPERIENCE IN A T LEAST ONE OF THE F OLLOWING AREAS : 5
293	293
294	294	(I) LAW; 6
295	295
296	296	(II) AUDITING; 7
297	297
298	298	(III) GOVERNMENT OPERATION S; 8
299	299
300	300	(IV) INVESTIGATIONS ; 9
301	301
302	302	(V) SOCIAL WORK; OR 10
303	303
304	304	(VI) CONFLICT RESOLUTION . 11
305	305
306	306	(C) WHILE SERVING AS OMBUDSMAN , AN INDIVIDUAL MAY NOT: 12
307	307
308	308	(1) BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH ANY POLITICAL A CTIVITIES; 13
309	309
310	310	(2) PUBLICLY ENDORSE , SOLICIT FUNDS FOR , OR MAKE 14
311	311	CONTRIBUTIONS TO A P OLITICAL PARTY OR CA NDIDATE FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE; 15
312	312
313	313	(3) BE A CANDIDATE FOR O R HOLD ANY ELECTIVE OR APPOINTED 16
314	314	OFFICE; OR 17
315	315
316	316	(4) ENGAGE IN ANY OTHER OCCUPATION , BUSINESS, OR PROFESSION 18
317	317	LIKELY TO: 19
318	318
319	319	(I) DETRACT FROM THE FUL L–TIME PERFORMANCE OF THE 20
320	320	OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES; 21
321	321
322	322	(II) RESULT IN A CONFLICT OF INTEREST; OR 22
323	323
324	324	(III) RESULT IN THE APPEAR ANCE OF IMPROPRIETY . 23
325	325
326	326	(D) (1) THE SALARY OF THE OMBUDSMAN IS EQUAL TO THE SALARY OF A 24
327	327	DISTRICT COURT JUDGE. 25
328	328	8 SENATE BILL 512
329	329
330	330
331	331	(2) THE SALARY OF THE OMBUDSMAN MAY NOT BE DIMINISHED 1
332	332	DURING THE OMBUDSMAN ’S TERM OF OFFICE . 2
333	333
334	334	6–604. 3
335	335
336	336	(A) THE OMBUDSMAN , IN RESPONSE TO A COM PLAINT OR ON THE 4
337	337	OMBUDSMAN ’S INITIATIVE, SHALL: 5
338	338
339	339	(1) INVESTIGATE ANY ADMI NISTRATIVE ACT THAT THE OMBUDSMAN 6
340	340	DETERMINES MAY BE : 7
341	341
342	342	(I) CONTRARY TO LAW OR R EGULATION; 8
343	343
344	344	(II) BASED ON A MISTAKE O F FACT; 9
345	345
346	346	(III) UNSUPPORTED BY SUFFI CIENT EVIDENCE ; 10
347	347
348	348	(IV) PERFORMED IN AN INEFFICIENT MANNE R; 11
349	349
350	350	(V) UNREASONABLE UNDER T HE TOTALITY OF THE 12
351	351	CIRCUMSTANCES ; OR 13
352	352
353	353	(VI) OTHERWISE ERRONEOUS ; 14
354	354
355	355	(2) CONDUCT INDEPENDENT REVIEWS AND ASSESSME NTS OF: 15
356	356
357	357	(I) HEALTH SERVICES PROV IDED TO INDIVIDUALS CONFINED 16
358	358	BY ANY AGENCY ; 17
359	359
360	360	(II) MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED TO INDIVIDU ALS 18
361	361	CONFINED BY ANY AGEN CY; 19
362	362
363	363	(III) PLANS BY AGENCIES TO EXPAND, RENOVATE, OR CLOSE 20
364	364	FACILITIES; 21
365	365
366	366	(IV) EDUCATIONAL AND VOCA TIONAL PROGRAMS FOR 22
367	367	INDIVIDUALS CONFINED BY ANY AGENCY ; AND 23
368	368
369	369	(V) AGENCY POLICIES ON R ESTRICTIVE OR PROTEC TIVE 24
370	370	HOUSING; 25
371	371
372	372	(3) COOPERATE WITH ANY A GENCY IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE 26
373	373	FUNCTIONING OF ANY A GENCY OR PREVENT ABU SES BY AGENCIES; 27 SENATE BILL 512 9
374	374
375	375
376	376
377	377	(4) INSPECT ANY FACILITI ES OWNED OR CONTROLL ED BY ANY 1
378	378	AGENCY TO MONITOR CO NDITIONS IN THE FACI LITIES; 2
379	379
380	380	(5) SEEK TO RESOLVE COMP LAINTS AGAINST AN AG ENCY THROUGH 3
381	381	MEDIATION OR OTHER C ONFLICT RESOLUTION M ETHODS; 4
382	382
383	383	(6) MAINTAIN A WEBSITE T HAT: 5
384	384
385	385	(I) SUBJECT TO THE REQUI REMENTS OF SUBSECTIO N (E) OF 6
386	386	THIS SECTION, MAKES CURRENT AND PA ST REPORTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; 7
387	387	AND 8
388	388
389	389	(II) PROVIDES CONTACT INF ORMATION FOR THE OFFICE OF 9
390	390	THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN ; AND 10
391	391
392	392	(7) ADOPT REGULATIONS NE CESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE 11
393	393	REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SUBTITLE. 12
394	394
395	395	(B) (1) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INVES TIGATE EACH COMPLAIN T ABOUT 13
396	396	AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACT, UNLESS THE OMBUDSMAN DETERMINES THAT: 14
397	397
398	398	(I) THE COMPLAINT COULD BE ADDRESSED THROUGH 15
399	399	ANOTHER PROCESS ; 16
400	400
401	401	(II) THE COMPLAINT IS TRI VIAL, FRIVOLOUS, VEXATIOUS, OR 17
402	402	NOT MADE IN GOOD FAI TH; 18
403	403
404	404	(III) THE COMPLAINANT UNRE ASONABLY DELAYED IN BRINGING 19
405	405	THE COMPLAINT ; 20
406	406
407	407	(IV) THE COMPLAINANT IS N OT PERSONALLY AFFECT ED BY THE 21
408	408	ADMINISTRATIVE ACT ; OR 22
409	409
410	410	(V) THE OMBUDSMAN LACKS SUFFI CIENT RESOURCES TO 23
411	411	INVESTIGATE THE COMP LAINT. 24
412	412
413	413	(2) THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFOR M A COMPLAINANT OF A 25
414	414	DECISION NOT TO INV ESTIGATE A COMPLAINT . 26
415	415
416	416	(3) ON REQUEST, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFOR M A COMPLAINANT 27
417	417	OF THE STATUS OF AN INVESTIGATION . 28
418	418	10 SENATE BILL 512
419	419
420	420
421	421	(4) ON THE COMPLETION OF AN INVESTIGATION BAS ED ON A 1
422	422	COMPLAINT, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL INFOR M THE COMPLAINANT OF ANY 2
423	423	CONCLUSIONS , RECOMMEN DATIONS, AND ACTIONS TAKEN IN RESPONSE TO THE 3
424	424	COMPLAINT. 4
425	425
426	426	(C) IF THE OMBUDSMAN DETERMINES THAT AN EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF AN 5
427	427	AGENCY ACTED IN A MA NNER WARRANTING CRIM INAL CHARGES OR DISC IPLINARY 6
428	428	PROCEEDINGS , THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL REFER THE MATTER TO APPROP RIATE 7
429	429	AUTHORITIES. 8
430	430
431	431	(D) AN AGENCY MAY NOT : 9
432	432
433	433	(1) RESTRICT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S ABILITY TO: 10
434	434
435	435	(I) INTERVIEW AGENCY PER SONNEL OR ANY INDIVI DUAL 11
436	436	CONFINED BY AN AGENC Y; 12
437	437
438	438	(II) ACCESS ANY RECORDS M AINTAINED BY THE AGE NCY; OR 13
439	439
440	440	(III) ACCESS ANY FACILITIE S OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY THE 14
441	441	AGENCY; 15
442	442
443	443	(2) OPEN ANY CORRESPONDE NCE SENT: 16
444	444
445	445	(I) TO THE OMBUDSMAN BY A PERSON BEING CONFINED BY 17
446	446	THE AGENCY; OR 18
447	447
448	448	(II) BY THE OMBUDSMAN TO A PERSON BEING CONFINED BY 19
449	449	THE AGENCY; OR 20
450	450
451	451	(3) INTERFERE WITH , DELAY, OR MONITOR ANY COM MUNICATION 21
452	452	BETWEEN THE OMBUDSMAN AND A PERSO N BEING CONFINED BY THE AGENCY. 22
453	453
454	454	(E) IN PERFORMING THE DUT IES ASSIGNED UNDER T HIS SUBTITLE, THE 23
455	455	OMBUDSMAN SHALL TREAT ALL COMMUNICATIONS A S CONFIDENTIAL AND M AY 24
456	456	REVEAL THE DETAILS O F ANY COMMUNICATION ONLY IF IT IS: 25
457	457
458	458	(1) NECESSARY TO CARRY O UT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES; AND 26
459	459
460	460	(2) DONE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH APPLICABLE STATE AND FEDERAL 27
461	461	LAW. 28
462	462	SENATE BILL 512 11
463	463
464	464
465	465	(F) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY SUBPOEN A ANY INDIVIDUAL TO APPEAR TO GIVE 1
466	466	SWORN TESTIMONY OR P RODUCE DOCUMENTARY E VIDENCE THAT IS REAS ONABLY 2
467	467	NECESSARY TO CARRY O UT THE OMBUDSMAN ’S DUTIES. 3
468	468
469	469	(G) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY BRING A N ACTION IN THE CIRC UIT COURT TO 4
470	470	ENFORCE THE PROVISIO NS OF THIS SUBTITLE . 5
471	471
472	472	6–605. 6
473	473
474	474	(A) WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER COMPLETIN G AN INVESTIGATION , THE 7
475	475	OMBUDSMAN SHALL SUBMI T TO AN AGENCY A REPORT CONT AINING ANY 8
476	476	CONCLUSIONS , RECOMMENDATIONS , AND REQUESTS FOR A R ESPONSE FROM THE 9
477	477	AGENCY. 10
478	478
479	479	(B) IF THE REPORT SUBMITT ED TO AN AGENCY UNDE R THIS SECTION 11
480	480	CONTAINS A REQUEST F OR A RESPONSE FROM T HE AGENCY, THE AGENCY SHALL 12
481	481	PROVIDE A WRITTEN RE SPONSE WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT O F THE REPORT. 13
482	482
483	483	(C) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY PROVIDE THE REPORT REQUIRED BY THIS 14
484	484	SECTION, AS WELL AS ANY RESPO NSES BY THE AGENCY , TO THE GOVERNOR OR , IN 15
485	485	ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 16
486	486
487	487	6–606. 17
488	488
489	489	(A) ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 EACH YEAR, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL 18
490	490	REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE, 19
491	491	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON: 20
492	492
493	493	(1) INVESTIGATIONS CONDU CTED BY THE OMBUDSMAN ; 21
494	494
495	495	(2) ANY ACTIONS TAKEN BY AN AGENCY AS A RESU LT OF THE 22
496	496	CONCLUSIONS OR RECOM MENDATIONS OF THE OMBUDSMAN ; AND 23
497	497
498	498	(3) ANY INSTANCE WHERE A N AGENCY REJECTS A R ECOMMENDATION 24
499	499	OR CONCLUSION OF THE OMBUDSMAN . 25
500	500
501	501	(B) IN ADDITION TO THE RE PORT REQUIRED BY SUB SECTION (A) OF THIS 26
502	502	SECTION, THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL PROV IDE TO THE GOVERNOR AND , IN 27
503	503	ACCORDANCE WITH § 2–1257 OF THIS ARTICLE , THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANY 28
504	504	OTHER REPORTS THAT THE GOVERNOR OR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY REQUIRE. 29
505	505
506	506	(C) A REPORT PREPARED UNDE R THIS SECTION SHALL BE PUBLISHED ON 30
507	507	THE OMBUDSMAN ’S WEBSITE. 31 12 SENATE BILL 512
508	508
509	509
510	510
511	511	6–607. 1
512	512
513	513	(A) IN THIS SECTION, “BOARD” MEANS THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN 2
514	514	ADVISORY BOARD. 3
515	515
516	516	(B) THERE IS A CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN ADVISORY BOARD. 4
517	517
518	518	(C) THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD IS TO PROVIDE I NFORMATION TO THE 5
519	519	OMBUDSMAN AND ASSIST THE OMBUDSMAN IN IDENTIFY ING APPROPRIATE 6
520	520	MATTERS TO INVESTIGA TE. 7
521	521
522	522	(D) THE BOARD SHALL CONSIST O F 10 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE 8
523	523	ATTORNEY GENERAL. 9
524	524
525	525	(E) TO THE EXTENT PRACTIC ABLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL 10
526	526	ENSURE THAT THE MEMB ERSHIP OF THE BOARD INCLUDES REPRES ENTATIVES OF: 11
527	527
528	528	(1) FAMILY MEMBERS OF CONFIN ED INDIVIDUALS; 12
529	529
530	530	(2) RETURNING CITIZENS ; 13
531	531
532	532	(3) NONSUPERVISORY CORRE CTIONAL OFFICERS ; 14
533	533
534	534	(4) MEMBERS OF THE PUBLI C WITH A DEMONSTRATE D INTEREST IN 15
535	535	CORRECTIONS ; AND 16
536	536
537	537	(5) INDIVIDUALS WITH BAC KGROUNDS IN HEALTH C ARE AND SOCIAL 17
538	538	WORK. 18
539	539
540	540	(F) THE OFFICE OF THE CORRECTIONAL OMBUDSMAN SHALL PROVI DE 19
541	541	STAFF FOR THE BOARD. 20
542	542
543	543	6–608. 21
544	544
545	545	(A) A PERSON MAY NOT , BY THREAT , FORCE, OR CORRUPT MEANS , 22
546	546	OBSTRUCT, IMPEDE, OR TRY TO OBSTRUCT T HE LAWFUL EXERCISE O F THE 23
547	547	OMBUDSMAN ’S POWERS. 24
548	548
549	549	(B) A PERSON WHO VIOL ATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A MISDEMEA NOR 25
550	550	AND ON CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONM ENT NOT EXCEEDING 1 YEAR OR A 26
551	551	FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR BOTH. 27
552	552	SENATE BILL 512 13
553	553
554	554
555	555	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 1
556	556	Assembly that the Governor shall include in the State budget for fiscal year 2024 and each 2
557	557	subsequent fiscal year an appropriation in an amount sufficient to fund the provisions of 3
558	558	this Act and to provide for at least two staff members of the Office of the Correctional 4
559	559	Ombudsman in 2024 and at least seven staff members of the Office in 2025 and each 5
560	560	subsequent fiscal year. 6
561	561
562	562	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before December 31, 7
563	563	2022, the Correctional Ombudsman and the Commission on Correctional Standards shall 8
564	564	submit a joint report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State 9
565	565	Government Article, the General Assembly detailing how the Office of the Correctional 10
566	566	Ombudsman and the Commission will coordinate in order to avoid overlap in their duties. 11
567	567
568	568	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before December 31, 12
569	569	2022, the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office shall report to the Correctional 13
570	570	Ombudsman, the Governor, and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 14
571	571	Article, the General Assembly on best practices for mediating grievances in the corrections 15
572	572	system. 16
573	573
574	574	SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 17
575	575	Assembly that, in its first year of operation, the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman 18
576	576	focus its activities primarily on those State correctional facilities located in the area of 19
577	577	Jessup, Maryland. 20
578	578
579	579	SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the General 21
580	580	Assembly that, in its first year of operation, the Office of the Correctional Ombudsman 22
581	581	conduct an audit of programming and services provided by the Division of Corrections since 23
582	582	fiscal year 2019. This audit shall include, among other things, an examination of: 24
583	583
584	584	(1) inmates’ rates of participation in: 25
585	585
586	586	(i) educational and vocational training; 26
587	587
588	588	(ii) evidence–based behavioral health and substance abuse 27
589	589	counseling; and 28
590	590
591	591	(iii) mentoring and reentry programs; and 29
592	592
593	593	(2) any obstacles to inmates’ participation in programs provided by the 30
594	594	Division. 31
595	595
596	596	SECTION 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENAC TED, That this Act shall take effect July 32
597	597	1, 2022. 33
598	598