An Act To Ensure That the Membership of the State Board of Corrections Includes a Representative with Expertise in Issues Regarding Mental Illness
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §1802, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 653, Pt. A, §30, is amended to read:
1. Appointments. The board consists of 9 members who are appointed by the Governor. Each appointment is subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters and to confirmation by the Senate, except those members appointed pursuant to paragraph C. The following provisions govern member qualifications:
A. One member must be a sitting sheriff selected from a list of 3 nominations submitted to the Governor by a statewide organization representing sheriffs;
B. One member must be a sitting county commissioner selected from a list of 3 nominations submitted to the Governor by a statewide organization representing county commissioners;
C. Two members must be representatives of the executive branch and at least one of the 2 must be from the department;
D. One member must be a municipal official selected from a list of 3 nominations submitted to the Governor by a statewide organization representing elected and appointed municipal officers and officials; and
E. The remaining 4 Four members must be broadly representative of the public and the geographical regions of the State. One of the 4 members appointed under this paragraph must be selected from a list of 3 nominations submitted to the Governor by a statewide organization representing county commissioners. A member appointed under this paragraph may not be an elected state or county official or municipal officer and may not derive income in substantial portion from work as an employee of a state, county or municipal government or in the field of corrections.
Of the 9 members, one must be a person with expertise in issues relating to mental illness.
Effective September 12, 2009