State prisons: construction and renovation.

Existing law requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to prepare plans for, and construct facilities and renovations included within, its master plan for which funds have been appropriated by the Legislature. Existing law also establishes the California Rehabilitation Oversight Board to regularly examine the various mental health, substance abuse, educational, and employment programs for inmates and parolees operated by the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature with respect to modifications, additions, and eliminations of rehabilitation and treatment programs. This bill would establish the Prison Oversight Commission and require the commission to develop guidelines for the construction of new prisons and renovation of existing prisons. The bill would require the commission, in developing the guidelines, to, among other things, consider how the guidelines will impact the provision of various services that may lead to the rehabilitation and successful reintegration of a prisoner. The bill would require construction of a new prison or renovation of an existing prison to be completed in accordance with those guidelines and would require the commission to oversee planning for the construction or renovation of a prison to ensure that it will be completed in accordance with those guidelines.