C.__Each board of visitors shall appear before the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters upon request.

D.__Boards of visitors shall meet regularly and at least 4 times a year.__At each meeting, a board of visitors may request and must receive information from the chief administrative officers as the board determines will assist in the review of the management of the facility.__To the extent that a board of visitors is not discussing matters made confidential by federal or state law, meetings of boards are public proceedings and must be conducted in accordance with Title 1, section 403.__Members of each board of visitors may visit the correctional facility to which that board is assigned and may speak with clients and with staff.

E.__Each board of visitors shall share copies of that board's annual report with the other boards.

3.__Volunteer activities.__Volunteer activities of a member of a board of visitors may be prescribed by departmental policies regarding volunteer activities generally.

Sec. 2. Staggered terms. Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-A, section 3002, the terms of members of boards of visitors appointed pursuant to Title 34-A, section 3002 during the first year following the effective date of this Act must be staggered and be for 1, 2 or 3 years.

SUMMARY

This bill provides 3-year terms for members of boards of visitors of correctional facilities with the initial terms staggered. It prohibits a Legislator or an employee of the Department of Corrections from serving on a board of visitors. It requires the Governor to appoint a chair for each board of visitors. It clarifies the meeting and reporting