SB1202: Correctional facilities, local; voting information for persons incarcerated.

SENATE BILL NO. 1202

Offered January 9, 2019
Prefiled January 4, 2019
A BILL to amend and reenact § 53.1-5 of the Code of Virginia, relating to voting information for persons incarcerated in local correctional facilities.
Patron-- Lucas

Referred to Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 53.1-5 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 53.1-5. Powers and duties of Board.

The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To develop and establish operational and fiscal standards governing the operation of local, regional, and community correctional facilities;

2. To advise the Governor and Director on matters relating to corrections;

3. To make, adopt, and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title and other laws of the Commonwealth pertaining to local, regional, and community correctional facilities, including rules and regulations regarding the provision of information on absentee voting to all persons confined in a local correctional facility who may be eligible to vote in accordance with subdivision 5 of § 24.2-700 and information on the process of applying for a restoration of civil rights and of voting rights for those persons who have been convicted of a felony;

4. To ensure the development of programs to educate citizens and elicit public support for the activities of the Department;

5. To develop and implement policies and procedures for the review of the death of any inmate that the Board determines warrants review that occurs in any local, regional, or community correctional facility. Such policies and procedures shall incorporate the Board's authority under § 53.1-6 to ensure the production of evidence necessary to conduct a thorough review of any such death;

6. To establish and promulgate regulations regarding the provision of educational and vocational programs within the Department; and

7. To adopt and promulgate regulations and require the Director and Department to enforce regulations prohibiting the possession of obscene materials, as defined and described in Article 5 (§ 18.2-372 et seq.) of Chapter 8 of Title 18.2, by prisoners incarcerated in state correctional facilities.