HB 173

State correctional facilities; visitation policies; annual report. Sets additional visitation standards for visitors to state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Department of Corrections (the Department) to provide extended or additional visitation access for (i) long-distance visitors who reside at least 150 miles from the correctional facility, (ii) minor visitors younger than 18 years of age, and (iii) infrequent visitors who have not completed an in-person visit to a correctional facility within 90 days prior to the day of their visit. The bill provides that each in-person visit shall last a minimum of two hours unless shortened at the request of either the visitor or the incarcerated individual. The bill requires the Department to implement pilot programs utilizing these visitation standards in no fewer than three state correctional facilities representing different security levels to evaluate operational, staffing, and safety impacts before statewide implementation. The bill also provides that visitation privileges may be suspended only for conduct occurring during visitation that presents a direct and substantial threat to the physical safety of participants or the security of the correctional facility. The bill provides a timeline and process for appealing any suspension of visitation rights. Finally, the bill requires the Department to collect and publish data in an annual report to the General Assembly.