1. The Department of Corrections may enter into one or more contracts with one or more private entities to perform core correctional services to promote the safety of prisoners, employees of prisons and the public by reducing overcrowding in prisons.

2. A private entity which performs core correctional services pursuant to a contract entered into pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements for housing, custody, medical and mental health treatment, and programming set forth in law and regulation and approved by the Board of State Prison Commissioners. Such requirements must be included in any contract entered into pursuant to this section.

3. If, pursuant to a contract entered into with a private entity pursuant to this section, the Department of Corrections proposes to transfer a prisoner to a facility that is located outside of this State:

(a) The Department must give first priority for any such transfer to a prisoner who is not a permanent resident of this State and who meets such other qualifications for such a transfer as are established by the Director of the Department; and

(b) The Department must ensure that the prisoner is provided with the ability to conduct visits by videoconferencing.

4. The Director of the Department of Corrections shall, on or before December 31 of each year, prepare and submit to the Director of the Legislative Counsel Bureau for transmittal to the Legislative Commission a report which includes, without limitation, the number of prisoners who are housed outside of this State and, for each such prisoner:

(a) The identification number assigned to the prisoner;

(b) The state of residence of the prisoner;

(c) The level of security restrictions imposed on the prisoner;

(d) The category of offense for which the prisoner was convicted;

(e) A statement as to whether the prisoner is a veteran, as defined in NRS 176A.090;

(f) Any programs which are available to the prisoner;

(g) Any programs which the prisoner completed; and

(h) The date on which the prisoner is projected to be released by expiration of his or her term of sentence or by parole.

5. The Department of Corrections shall biannually conduct an on-site inspection of each facility where a prisoner is housed by a private entity with which the Department has contracted to perform core correctional services pursuant to this section to ensure the compliance of the entity with the terms of the contract.

6. As used in this section, “core correctional services” means the housing, safeguarding, protecting and disciplining of prisoners.

(Added to NRS by 2019, 953)