HB 674

This bill enacts the "Proximity Placement and Family Visitations Incentive Act, "" the purpose of which is to reduce the hardships faced by families who travel long distances to visit incarcerated loved ones, and to incentivize positive behavior in our prisons by granting eligible inmates an opportunity to transfer to a correctional facility that is closer in physical prox i mity to the incarcerated person's home county where the incarcerated person's family resides. In order for an eligible incarcerated person to qualify to transfer to a home county institution, this bill requires the incarcerated person to do all of the fo llowing:  Maintain a record of good behavior for at least 12 months or a different period of time as agreed upon between unit staff at the eligible incarcerated person's correctional facility and the eligible incarcerated person, and such agreement must be evidenced in writing . H owever, any agreed upon period of time must not exceed the amount of time remaining in the eligible incarcerated person's sentence for imprisonment .  Participate in educational, vocational, or therapeutic programs offered at the incarcerated person's facility. This bill requires p riority for an eligible incarcerated person to transfer to a home county institution to be granted to eligible incarcerated persons with family members who (i) vi sit an eligible incarcerated person at reg ular intervals, as evidenced by visitation records or other forms of documented proof; or ( ii ) p rovide written proof of hardship due to long distances traveled in order to visit an eligible incarcerated person. A family that demonstrates economic hardship, including through evidence of low income or lack of transportation, must be prioritized in determining need for transfer to a home county facility. REPORT This bill requires t he department of correctio n, i n collaboration with the inmate disciplinary o versight board, to at least annually provide a report to legislative committees with jurisdiction over subject matter pertaining to corrections detailing all of the following:  Family visitation metrics and reporting for eligible incarcerated persons .  The number of eligible incarcerated persons who are eligible for transfer .  The number of inmates who were transferred to home county institutions .  The details of any agreement and the duration of good behavior agreed upon between an eligible incarcerated person and the unit staff at the eligible incarcerated person's correctional facility .  Pursuant to a transfer to a home county facility, any fluctuations in family visitation rates and report on any positive impacts the improved proximity placement to family the transfer has had on prisoner behavior and family wellbeing . INTERACTION WITH OTHER LAWS This bill clarifies that it does not repeal or modify the Interstate Corrections Compact, or state law regarding the safekeeping or transfer of inmates to pen itentiaries, nor any administrative authority granted to an administrative agency to oversee corrections or the handling of inmates in this state, nor sentence credits, terms, or the duration of any term of imprisonment being served by an inmate in this s t ate, nor any other applicable state, local, or federal laws."