Bill Text: MS HB1141 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi House Bill 1141 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Use of mace in private correctional facilities; require Commissioner of Department of Corrections to monitor and report.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Failed) 2011-02-01 - Died In Committee [HB1141 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2011-HB1141-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2011 Regular Session

To: Corrections

By: Representatives Banks, Hines

House Bill 1141

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-1119, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT TO MONITOR AND REPORT THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES THAT MACE IS USED AGAINST INCARCERATED OFFENDERS WITHIN A PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-1119, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-1119. (1) The commissioner shall monitor any contracts with prison contractors providing correctional services and shall report at least annually, or as requested, to the Senate Committee on Corrections and the House Penitentiary Committee on the performance of the contractor. In addition to the monitoring of any contractors providing correctional services, the commissioner shall also monitor the use of mace against any offender. Such use shall be reported, as required by this subsection, from information gathered by the medical director of the department.

(2) The medical director of the department shall be responsible for monitoring all aspects of the facility, including the number of instances of reported use of mace against offenders. The medical director may designate a person to assist in monitoring at the facility, as the medical director determines to be necessary. The medical director shall be provided an on-site work area, shall be on-site on a daily basis, and shall have access to all areas of the facility and to inmates and staff at all times. The contractor shall provide any and all data, reports and other materials that the medical director determines are necessary to carry out monitoring responsibilities under this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2011.