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2026 Special Session I

Budget Amendments - HB30 (Conference Report)

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Corrections Ombudsman Workload (language only)

Item 57 #1c

Item 57 #1c

Executive Offices
Office of the State Inspector General

Language

Page 50, line 26, after "F." insert "1."

Page 50, after line 28, insert:

"2. Notwithstanding Article 4 of Chapter 1, Title 53.1, the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman (Office) shall not be required to establish policies for a statewide uniform reporting system, as described in § 53.1-17.2 (A) (5), and may include in its annual report the items in § 53.1-17.8 (A) (2-6) and (8-10). Other statutory reporting requirements, including the directive to collect and analyze data related to complaints received by the Department of Corrections (Department), remain in effect. As the Department deploys tablets to inmates, the Department shall ensure that the Office continues to have access to: the status of complaints; all emergency grievances, written complaints, and regular grievances from inmates, as well as the Department's responses and resolutions to complaints (to include the institutional ombudsman notes on why a complaint is accepted or rejected); and issued grievance receipts, appeal requests, and responses to appeals. In addition, the Department shall assess the feasibility, including cost estimates if any additional funding is needed, to establish a mechanism by which the Office may respond to inmate complaints electronically in accordance with § 53.1-17.4(B) and § 53.1-17.5 of the Code of Virginia and shall provide such assessment to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees by December 15, 2026."



Explanation

(This amendment provides language that streamlines certain statutory reporting requirements of the Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman and directs the Department of Corrections to assess the cost and feasibility of allowing confidential electronic communication from the Office to inmates who have submitted complaints.)