SB322 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Department of Corrections; Deputy Commissioner for Prison Rehabilitation renamed; number of Deputy Commissioners further provided for; additional exempt and unclassified employees created; additional Joint Prison Oversight Committee duties created

Summary

SB322 renames the Deputy Commissioner for Prisoner Rehabilitation to Deputy Commissioner for Inmate Rehabilitation, expands Corrections leadership with additional exempt administrators and constituent-services staff, and strengthens the oversight committee to study inmate services, mental health, restitution, and capacity.

What This Bill Does

It changes the job title of the deputy overseeing rehabilitation to focus on inmate rehabilitation. It allows the department to appoint up to five deputy commissioners and creates exempt administrator positions to manage operations, plus up to 15 exempt staff to handle constituent services, including a liaison to the oversight committee. It renames the Joint Prison Oversight Committee to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee, expands its membership and duties to study mental health, restitution, capacity, and services, and requires regular reporting and coordination with multiple state agencies.

Who It Affects

• Department of Corrections leadership and staff (Deputy Commissioners, administrators, and constituent-services personnel) who gain new or expanded roles, appointment rules, and salary parameters.
• Constituents and families of inmates and victims, who will use standardized inquiry forms and a centralized process for addressing concerns, as well as oversight bodies responsible for evaluating corrections-related issues.

Key Provisions

• Rename Deputy Commissioner for Prisoner Rehabilitation to Deputy Commissioner for Inmate Rehabilitation and designate responsibilities for reducing recidivism.
• Allow the Commissioner to appoint up to five deputy commissioners and create exempt administrator positions to run correctional facilities, plus 15 exempt staff for constituent services (including one liaison to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee and 14 staff for all facilities).
• By March 1, 2025, authorize up to 15 constituent-services employees; set salaries not to exceed the commissioner’s salary; appoint staff who are exempt and not required to be certified as corrections or law enforcement officers.
• Require standardized inquiries/complaints forms, online access, assignment of each form to a constituent-services employee, and responses to the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee liaison.
• Create the Joint Legislative Prison Oversight Committee with eight members (two ex-officio, six appointed), empower it to examine prison operations and related issues, and require reports to the Legislature by a set deadline.
• Direct the committee to study mental health, restitution collection, capacity planning, and inmate services in coordination with numerous state agencies, and to address capacity issues and facility construction/renovation related to overcrowding and public safety.
• Require the Department of Examiners of Public Accounts to hire an exempt staff person to assist the committee by September 1, 2024.
• Effective date: June 1, 2024.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Incarceration