An Act To Require the Accommodation of Religious Practices in Correctional Facilities

Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §3048  is enacted to read:

§ 3048.  Religious services

The commissioner shall adopt rules that provide for the accommodation of any prisoner who expresses a desire to practice a religion of the prisoner's choice as long as the practice does not present a threat to the safety, security or orderly management of the facility in which the prisoner is housed. The rules must be consistent with all federal requirements. Rules adopted under this section are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.

Sec. 2. Rule-making process. The Commissioner of Corrections shall use the February 28, 2008 draft of the Department of Corrections policy "Religious Services, General Guidelines" as a basis for the rules adopted under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 34-A, section 3048.