HB554 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee, add members to the committee, make technical changes, Sec. 29-2-20 am'd.

Summary

HB 554 expands the prison oversight committee, increases reporting and transparency requirements for the Department of Corrections, mandates screening for anyone entering prisons, and creates a centralized electronic system for inmate death information.

What This Bill Does

It adds two members to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee, increasing its size to ten members. It requires the committee to meet quarterly and file annual reports to the Legislature, and to review Department of Corrections reports. It requires the Department of Corrections to adopt screening measures for anyone entering a correctional facility and to develop a centralized electronic system for inmate death information (with autopsy data) in coordination with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. It requires the Department to file quarterly reports to the committee, including data such as litigation, sexual assaults, inmate deaths, contraband, and weapons, and mandates monthly reports from prison wardens; failure to report can lead to disciplinary action for wardens.

Who It Affects

• Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee members and leadership, who will gain two additional members and must meet quarterly and report to the Legislature.
• Department of Corrections, prison staff, inmates, visitors, volunteers, and other entrants to correctional facilities, who will be subject to new screening requirements and enhanced reporting and data-sharing obligations.

Key Provisions

• Adds two members to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee, for a total of ten members.
• Requires the committee to meet quarterly and to file annual reports to the Legislature, and to review DoC reports.
• obligates the Department of Corrections to adopt screening measures for every person entering a correctional facility and to establish a centralized electronic system for inmate death information in coordination with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
• Directs the Department to provide quarterly reports to the committee detailing litigation, sexual assaults in facilities, all inmate deaths (with cause and manner), contraband, weapons, and any other requested data; requires wardens to provide monthly reports to the commissioner; failure to file reports can result in disciplinary action.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Legislature