Corrections - Digest of Bills

Digest of Bills - 1997

CORRECTIONS

H.B. 97-1046 Operations of the department - discharge money - administrative warrants - parole system study. Clarifies that a discharged inmate may be given a bus ticket only to places within the state and that an inmate who has previously been returned to the department of corrections is not entitled to "gate" money.

Authorizes the executive director to issue administrative warrants for the arrest of escapees from the department. Authorizes the executive director to enter into written agreements with other law enforcement agencies for operational support and to assist in apprehending escapees.

Clarifies that the executive director or the executive director's designee may authorize an offender to not be initially confined in the diagnostic center. Clarifies that an offender may be assigned to the assessment program in the diagnostic center for up to 60 days.

Makes revisions to the work program. Renames it the intensive labor work program.

Changes terminology from "gang" to "security threat group" relating to security measures taken by superintendents of correctional facilities.

Specifies that all violent offenders are excluded from being referred to community corrections by the executive director.

Provides for a study of the parole system by the legislative council. Repeals the authorization for preparole facilities and programs.

APPROVED by Governor March 20, 1997
EFFECTIVE March 20, 1997

H.B. 97-1115 Jails - medical treatment charge. Authorizes county jails to assess a medical treatment charge against any person who receives medical treatment while being held in custody in a county jail. Specifies that the person's inability to pay the medical treatment charge is not a basis for refusing medical treatment. Identifies an unpaid medical treatment charge as a cost of care for which a judgment may be entered and which may be collected by the county.

APPROVED by Governor April 1, 1997
EFFECTIVE April 1, 1997

H.B. 97-1244 State criminal justice facilities - construction of additional beds and related supporting facilities - appropriations - authorization of electrified, lethal perimeter security systems. Based upon the projected correctional facility needs over the next 5 years, provides for the construction of the following new beds and related supporting facilities and makes the appropriations therefore during the 1997-98 fiscal year from the capital construction fund:

480 minimum restrictive security beds at a correctional facility at Trinidad;
192 minimum restrictive security beds in 2 96-bed housing units as additions to the Four Mile correctional center, to replace the existing 300 beds in living units 1 and 2, including the decommissioning of living unit 1 and the renovation of living unit 2 into program space;
292 minimum restrictive security beds in 3 96-bed housing units and a 4-bed management unit as additions to the Buena Vista minimum complex, to replace the existing 214 beds in modular units;
The construction of the central plant building shell and the central warehouse and the build-out of the cook-to-serve food service operation as additions to the Denver women's correctional facility that are necessary to support phase II of the expansion project at the facility; and
180 beds as an addition to the youth offender system facility on the grounds of the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo.

Authorizes the department of corrections to commence preparation of the schematic design for phase II of the expansion project at the San Carlos correctional facility and the facilities program plan for a training facility on the grounds of the Colorado mental health institute at Pueblo. Directs the department of corrections to commence planning for the construction of phase III of the construction project at the Sterling correctional facility.

Increases the amount of moneys to be transferred from the general fund to the capital construction fund for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 1997, by approximately $78.8 million to fund said projects.

Changes the name of the Buena Vista modular unit to the Buena Vista minimum complex to reflect the elimination of modular units at the facility. Corrects the name of the San Carlos correctional facility on the list of correctional facilities managed, supervised, and controlled by the department of corrections and adds the Sterling correctional facility, the Trinidad correctional facility, and the Denver's women's correctional facility to said list.

Authorizes the department of corrections to design and construct electrified, lethal perimeter security systems at state correctional facilities if the department determines the use of such security systems to be necessary and appropriate. Extends governmental immunity to the department of corrections, its agents, and any contractor hired by the department for the design and construction of any electrified, lethal perimeter security system in regard to any claims arising from the design and construction of the lethal aspect of such security system.

APPROVED by Governor June 4, 1997
EFFECTIVE June 4, 1997

H.B. 97-1291 Correctional industries - interest and earnings - management fees. Removes the 3% interest limitation on moneys borrowed from the state treasury by the division of correctional industries.

Requires interest derived from moneys in the correctional industries special revolving enterprise account to be credited to the account. Provides that investment earnings on moneys in the account are exempt from payment of the state treasury deposit and investment management fee.

APPROVED by Governor March 24, 1997
EFFECTIVE March 24, 1997