HB 2276 — An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general administration relating to correctional institutions, providing for boards of prison inspectors in State correctional institutions.

PRINTER'S NO.   2976

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                          HOUSE BILL
                          No. 2276
                                                  Session of
                                                    2026

     INTRODUCED BY N. NELSON, MADDEN, McNEILL, SANCHEZ, BURGOS,
        MAYES, PARKER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HANBIDGE AND HILL-EVANS,
        MARCH 10, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 10, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in general administration relating to
 3      correctional institutions, providing for boards of prison
 4      inspectors in State correctional institutions.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.      Chapter 11 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
 8   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
 9                                 SUBCHAPTER E
10                         BOARDS OF PRISON INSPECTORS
11   Sec.
12   1181.   Definitions.
13   1182.   Establishment.
14   1183.   Membership.
15   1184.   Duties of board.
16   1185.   Board meetings.
17   1186.   Funding.
18   1187.   Annual report.
 1   § 1181.    Definitions.
 2      The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
 3   shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
 4   context clearly indicates otherwise:
 5      "Board."      A board of prison inspectors established by this
 6   subchapter.
 7      "Member."      A member of a board.
 8   § 1182.    Establishment.
 9      A board of prison inspectors is established in each State
10   correctional institution.
11   § 1183.    Membership.
12      (a)    Composition.--Each board shall be composed of the
13   following members:
14             (1)   Three medical professionals.
15             (2)   Three education professionals.
16             (3)   Three law enforcement officers.
17             (4)   Three county-elected officials from the county in
18      which the State correctional institution is located.
19             (5)   Three community members:
20                   (i)    one of whom must be a former inmate of the State
21             correctional institution;
22                   (ii)    one of whom must be a family member of an
23             inmate at the State correctional institution; and
24                   (iii)    one of whom must be an individual who resides
25             in the county in which the State correctional institution
26             is located.
27      (b)    Appointments.--
28             (1)   Members under subsection (a)(1) shall be appointed
29      by the Department of Health.
30             (2)   Members under subsection (a)(2) shall be appointed

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 1      by the Department of Education.
 2             (3)   Members under subsection (a)(3) shall be appointed
 3      by the Commissioner of Pennsylvania State Police.
 4             (4)   Members under subsection (a)(4) shall be appointed
 5      by the governing body of the county.
 6             (5)   Members under subsection (a)(5) shall be appointed
 7      by the Governor, with confirmation from the Senate.
 8      (c)    Qualifications.--A member must be representative of the
 9   broad segments of the county's population and whose background
10   and experience indicate that the individual is qualified to act
11   in the interest of the public.
12      (d)    Ineligibility.--A member may not be an employee of a
13   State correctional institution or the Commonwealth.
14      (e)    Terms.--A member shall serve for a term of three years.
15      (f)    Compensation prohibited.--A member shall serve without
16   compensation but is entitled to be reimbursed by the county for
17   reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of the duties as
18   a member.
19   § 1184.    Duties of board.
20      (a)    General duties.--A board shall have the following
21   duties:
22             (1)   To conduct unannounced inspections of the State
23      correctional institution for which the board is established.
24             (2)   To review all information in the possession of the
25      State correctional institution or the department relating to
26      misconduct of a corrections officer currently or previously
27      employed at the State correctional institution.
28             (3)   To review information in the possession of the State
29      correctional institution or the department relating to
30      complaints by inmates currently or previously incarcerated in

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 1      the State correctional institution.
 2      (b)   Living conditions.--A board shall ensure that the living
 3   conditions within the State correctional institution for which
 4   the board is established and alternative housing facilities that
 5   provide services on behalf of the State correctional institution
 6   are healthful and otherwise adequate.
 7      (c)   Unannounced inspections.--
 8            (1)   A board shall, at least twice annually, conduct an
 9      unannounced inspection of the physical plant of the State
10      correctional institution for which the board is established.
11            (2)   During the inspection, the board shall interview a
12      cross section of inmates, out of the presence of the warden
13      and the warden's agents, to determine the conditions within
14      the State correctional institution and alternative housing
15      facilities.
16            (3)   After an inspection, the board shall prepare a
17      written report stating its findings and determinations and
18      shall make the report available for public inspection and
19      duplication in accordance with the act of February 14, 2008
20      (P.L.6, No.3), known as the Right-to-Know Law.
21      (d)   Operations to be consistent with law.--A board shall
22   ensure that the State correctional institution for which the
23   board is established is being operated in accordance with its
24   regulations and the laws and regulations of the United States
25   and this Commonwealth.
26      (e)   Investigations.--
27            (1)   A board shall investigate allegations of inadequate
28      conditions in the State correctional institution for which
29      the board is established and improper practices occurring
30      within the State correctional institution and may conduct

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 1      other investigations or reviews of the State correctional
 2      institution's operations and maintenance.
 3             (2)   The books, papers and records of the State
 4      correctional institution, including the papers and records of
 5      the warden and relating to individual inmates, shall be open
 6      for inspection by the board.
 7   § 1185.    Board meetings.
 8      (a)    Quorum.--A majority of the members of the board shall
 9   constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and all
10   actions of the board shall be by the approval of a majority of
11   all members of the board.
12      (b)    Frequency.--
13             (1)   A board shall meet quarterly to discuss and review
14      information obtained during the course of its operations as
15      well as any recommendations for improved operations and
16      conditions in the State correctional institution for which
17      the board is established.
18             (2)   Meetings of the board shall be publicly accessible.
19   § 1186.    Funding.
20      The administrative expenses of a board shall be funded by
21   appropriations to the department for that purpose.
22   § 1187.    Annual report.
23      (a)    Duty of board.--A board shall prepare an annual report
24   documenting the following:
25             (1)   Conditions in the State correctional institution for
26      which the board is established.
27             (2)   Information obtained during the course of its
28      operations, as well as any recommendations for improved
29      operations and conditions in the State correctional
30      institution.

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1      (b)   Availability.--The annual report shall be available for
2   public inspection on the department's publicly accessible
3   Internet website.
4      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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