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An Act To Ensure the Availability of In-person Visitation in County Jails
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA §1556-A  is enacted to read:
§ 1556-A. Visitation
Except as otherwise provided in this section, and subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of a county jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff of the county jail, the sheriff shall provide for in-person visitation between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner.
 
1.  Video-only visitation.     Upon a determination by the sheriff of a county jail that in-person visitation between a particular prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner may jeopardize the safety and security of the jail, the sheriff may restrict that prisoner to video-only visitation. Upon a determination by the sheriff that the jail facility is unable to provide a safe and secure location for any in-person visitation, the sheriff, on a short-term basis only, may restrict all visitation at the jail to video-only visitation.
 
2.  Contact visitation.     Subject to any conditions and limitations required for the safety and security of a county jail as determined on a case-by-case basis by the sheriff, the sheriff shall provide opportunities for in-person visitation involving physical contact between a prisoner and a visitor of the prisoner, unless the sheriff determines that the jail facility is unable to provide a safe and secure location for any in-person visitation involving physical contact.
 
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.