Bill > LD626

This bill amends existing law to expand the Department of Corrections' authority to manage rehabilitation programs and charge room and board fees for residents participating in work-related activities. Specifically, the bill adds new types of release programs including education release, remote work, and public service release, and explicitly allows the department to charge room and board fees to residents performing remote work within correctional facilities. The bill clarifies that these charges cannot exceed 10% of a resident's earnings from work release or remote work activities. The changes aim to provide more flexibility for rehabilitation programs and allow facilities to offset some of their operational costs. Key modifications include updating terminology from "client" to "resident", broadening the types of approved activities outside traditional work release, and establishing clear guidelines for transportation and room and board cost assessments. The bill maintains the underlying goal of rehabilitation by ensuring that any authorized activities contribute to the resident's reformation and preparation for eventual release.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=626&snum=132