Section 21-H:14-a Strategic Capital Plan Committee.
I. There is established a committee to develop a strategic capital plan for department of corrections' facilities.
II. (a) The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(1) Five members of the house of representatives, at least one of whom shall be a member of the criminal justice and public safety committee, at least one of whom shall be a member of the public works and highways committee, and at least one of whom shall be a member of the finance committee, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(2) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
(b) Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee. The terms of members of the committee shall be coterminous with their terms of office.
III. The committee shall develop a strategic capital plan for all department of corrections' facilities. The committee's duties shall include, but not be limited to, considering:
(a) The suitability of current structures and facilities used by the state for incarceration and rehabilitation of offenders.
(b) Acquiring a suitable site for a women's prison or a new prison complex. Such a complex would involve the centralization of resources and maximize efficiency in the coordination of services to women inmates. The committee should also consider the demographics of Goffstown's older population in particular and the lack of bed space. The committee should decide whether to provide the opportunity to partner with the counties and the federal government to accept their inmates in any new women's prison facility.
(c) Consolidation of certain facilities to create a more efficient delivery of services.
(d) Whether the secure psychiatric unit should continue to be a part of the department of corrections' responsibilities.
(e) The addition of 500 beds in the northern correctional facility and what effect that might have on the corrections system.
(f) Whether the department of corrections should enter into a contract to house offenders from other states.
IV. The members of the committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
V. The committee shall make reports on or before November 1 of each year beginning with November 1, 2005 of its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library.
Source. 2005, 139:1, eff. June 17, 2005.