MaineCommissioner sets rules for lawmakers visiting correctional and detention facilities
The law lets legislators visit correctional and detention facilities under rules the corrections commissioner must send to the Legislature by January 31, 2027.
What it does
The law lets legislators visit correctional and detention facilities under rules set by the corrections commissioner. Those rules must cover access to facility areas, people held there, and staff, and when a facility leader may deny access.
When a facility board of visitors has a vacancy, the commissioner must notify the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker within five days. The Governor has 90 days from that notice to fill the seat; if not, the Senate President and House Speaker appoint someone jointly.
Argument forVisits could help legislators see facility conditions firsthand and speak with staff and people held in correctional or detention facilities.
Argument againstLegislators may still be denied access in some situations, which could limit their ability to visit facilities and speak with staff or people held there.
More detail
The corrections commissioner must adopt rules for legislators' access to correctional and detention facilities. The rules cover legislators visiting correctional and detention facilities. The rules must address access to facility areas, clients, and staff, and when a facility's chief administrator may deny access. The commissioner must send the rules to the Legislature by January 31, 2027.
The commissioner must notify state leaders when a correctional facility board of visitors has a vacancy. This process applies to vacancies on boards of visitors for correctional facilities under the Department of Corrections. The Governor must fill the vacancy; if the Governor does not appoint someone within 90 days after notice, the Senate President and House Speaker must appoint someone jointly. The commissioner must give notice within five days of the vacancy. The 90-day appointment period starts when notice is given.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 19Became Law without Governor's SignatureLatest
- Apr 6PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 2Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 2PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Mar 31Ordered sent down forthwith.
- Mar 31On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland the Senate RECEDED and CONCURRED to PASSAGE TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "B" (S-578)Minor
- Mar 30ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded acc report "a" otp-am by ca "a". Result: fail.Lower
- Mar 30In NON-CONCURRENCE and sent for concurrence.
- Mar 30The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "B" (S-578).Minor
- Mar 30Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Mar 30Committee Amendment "B" (S-578) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Mar 30The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Mar 30On motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield, REPORT C Ought to Pass as Amended was ACCEPTED.
- Mar 30(Yeas 69 - Nays 69 - Absent 12 - Excused 0 - Vacant 1)
- Mar 30ROLL CALL NO. 696
- Mar 30Motion of Representative HASENFUS of Readfield to ACCEPT REPORT A Ought to Pass as Amended FAILED.
- Mar 30Reports READ.
- Mar 26Sent down for concurrence
- Vote recorded ACCEPT REPORT 'A' OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-577)Minor
- Mar 26Committee Amendment "A" (S-577) READ and ADOPTEDMinor
- Mar 26READ ONCEMinor
- Mar 26Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 803 Yeas 21 - Nays 14 - Excused 0 - Absent 0
- Mar 26ACCEPTANCE of The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-577) Report PREVAILED.
- Mar 26Taken from the table by the President
- Mar 25On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland Tabled until Later in Today's Session, pending Motion by Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox to ACCEPT The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-577) Report. Roll Call Ordered
- Mar 25Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox moved to ACCEPT The Report A Ought to Pass As Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-577) Report.
- Mar 25Reports READ.
- Mar 23Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP/OTP-AM
- Jan 28Voted - Divided Report
- Jan 28Work Session Held
- Jan 14Work Session Held - TABLED
- 2025
- Jun 25CARRIED OVER, in the same posture, to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 800.
- May 19Carry Over Approved
- May 16Carry Over Requested
- May 15Work Session Held - TABLED
- May 13In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- May 13The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY.Minor
- May 13Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrenceIntroduced
Criminal Justice