1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to corrections; creating an advisory task 
  1.3             force to study the department of corrections' release 
  1.4             policies and procedures concerning mentally ill 
  1.5             inmates and inmates confined in punitive segregation; 
  1.6             requiring a report. 
  1.7   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.8      Section 1.  [TASK FORCE TO STUDY PRISON RELEASE PRACTICES.] 
  1.9      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.] The 
  1.10  commissioner of corrections shall establish a task force to 
  1.11  study the department of corrections' current release practices 
  1.12  and procedures concerning acutely mentally ill inmates and 
  1.13  inmates confined in punitive segregation.  The task force shall 
  1.14  consider, at a minimum, the following issues: 
  1.15     (1) whether the safety of inmates and correctional 
  1.16  employees would be enhanced by providing a gradual transition 
  1.17  process for inmates who are released from punitive segregation 
  1.18  confinement into the general prison population; 
  1.19     (2) whether public safety would be enhanced by providing a 
  1.20  gradual transition process for inmates who are released from 
  1.21  punitive segregation confinement and immediately discharged from 
  1.22  prison because the inmates' sentence has expired; 
  1.23     (3) whether it would be feasible to establish the gradual 
  1.24  transition processes described in clause (1) or (2) and, if so, 
  1.25  how these processes should be structured and implemented; and 
  1.26     (4) whether new release procedures are needed to better 
  2.1   protect the public when inmates with acute mental illnesses are 
  2.2   released from prison and, if so, how those procedures should be 
  2.3   structured and implemented. 
  2.4      Subd. 2.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The advisory task force consists of 
  2.5   the following members, appointed as follows: 
  2.6      (1) two members of the senate, one of whom is a member of 
  2.7   the minority caucus, appointed by the committee on committees; 
  2.8      (2) two members of the house of representatives, one of 
  2.9   whom is a member of the minority caucus, appointed by the 
  2.10  speaker; 
  2.11     (3) the commissioner of corrections or a designee; 
  2.12     (4) two employees of the department of corrections, one of 
  2.13  whom has expertise in correctional law, and one of whom has 
  2.14  expertise in prison disciplinary matters, appointed by the 
  2.15  commissioner; 
  2.16     (5) up to three public members who have expertise in mental 
  2.17  health matters, appointed by the commissioner of corrections; 
  2.18  and 
  2.19     (6) the ombudsman for corrections.  
  2.20     The commissioner of corrections or the commissioner's 
  2.21  designee shall chair the advisory task force. 
  2.22     Subd. 3.  [REPORT.] By January 15, 2001, the advisory task 
  2.23  force shall report its findings and legislative recommendations 
  2.24  to the chairs and ranking minority members of the house and 
  2.25  senate committees having jurisdiction over criminal justice 
  2.26  policy and to the legislature in accordance with Minnesota 
  2.27  Statutes, section 3.195. 
  2.28     Subd. 4.  [EXPIRATION.] This section expires March 1, 2001.