45th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2002

RELATING TO CORRECTIONS; CREATING THE CORRECTIONS POLICY AND RESEARCH COUNCIL; PROVIDING DUTIES; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. CORRECTIONS POLICY AND RESEARCH COUNCIL--CREATION--MEMBERSHIP--DUTIES.--

A. The "corrections policy and research council" is created.

B. The corrections policy and research council shall be composed of eight members. Appointed members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. The council shall consist of the following individuals:

(1) one public member appointed by the governor;

(2) one public member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;

(3) one public member appointed by the minority floor leader of the house of representatives;

(4) one public member appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate;

(5) one public member appointed by the minority floor leader of the senate;

(6) the attorney general or his designee;

(7) the secretary of corrections or his designee; and

(8) the secretary of general services or his designee.

C. A majority of the members of the corrections policy and research council constitutes a quorum for the transaction of council business.

D. To perform its duties, the corrections policy and research council shall:

(1) hold meetings at times and for periods as the council deems necessary;

(2) hire an executive director and staff as needed to assist the council in the performance of its duties; and

(3) prepare an annual budget.

E. The corrections policy and research council shall:

(1) advise the executive and legislative branches of government on policy matters relating to correctional facilities and operations at those facilities;

(2) forecast projected growth in the male and female inmate populations;

(3) analyze the sufficiency of educational, vocational, spiritual and treatment programs for inmates incarcerated in correctional facilities;

(4) analyze the need to expand the availability of community corrections programs and other alternatives to incarceration;

(5) maintain a central database of information regarding correctional facilities, including an inventory of staffing levels at individual correctional facilities, architectural drawings of correctional facilities and specifications for correctional facilities;

(6) analyze short-term and long-term strategies for recruiting and retaining qualified correctional officers;

(7) analyze the need for future construction of additional correctional facilities;

(8) develop a master plan for the corrections department; and

(9) make recommendations to the executive and legislative branches regarding proposals to improve the corrections system.

F. The members of the corrections policy and research council shall be paid pursuant to the provisions of the Per Diem and Mileage Act and shall receive no other perquisite, compensation or allowance.

G. The corrections policy and research council is administratively attached to the corrections department.

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the corrections policy and research council for expenditure in fiscal year 2003 for the purpose of hiring an executive director and staff, purchasing equipment and supplies and carrying out its duties. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2003 shall revert to the general fund.