30:4-1.1. Boards of trustees; powers and duties

It shall be the duty of the local boards of trustees to advance long-range planning for the medical care, correctional and training programs at their respective institutions; and maintain general oversight of the institution. The board shall not administer the individual institutions.

The board of trustees shall have power to:

a. Review institutional needs;

b. Exercise visitorial supervision over the institution under the supervision or control of the department. Its visitorial general powers of supervision are hereby defined as visiting such institution to examine into its manner of conducting its affairs and to advise the commissioner on the observance and enforcement of the laws of the State;

c. Develop with the commissioner and his staff and jointly promulgate and maintain a comprehensive master plan which shall be long-range in nature and be regularly revised and updated, including priorities for the construction of new institutions and the development of new programs;

d. Recommend and advise the commissioner on building programs of the institution as required by the master plan, provided that provision is made therefor in the annual or a supplemental or special appropriation act of the Legislature or otherwise;

e. Review and comment upon budget requests from the institution;

f. Encourage harmonious and cooperative relationships with other similar institutions in the area, public and private;

g. Review periodically existing programs of care, training, rehabilitation, research and public service in the institution, and in similar institutions of other states, and advise the State board and the commissioner as to any desirable change;

h. Make to the commissioner such recommendations as it deems necessary with regard to services, lands, buildings, and equipment to be furnished by the institution;

i. Authorize such studies and require such reports from the chief executive officer of the institution as it may deem necessary from time to time;

j. Advise the institutional head;

k. Control and determine the use of patient or inmate welfare funds within the general regulation of the State board;

l. Interpret the mandate and work of the institution to the public;

m. Carry out such other duties as the commissioner or the State board may assign to the board or to its individual members;

n. Periodically review existing rules, regulations and policies of the State parole board and advise the parole board as to any desirable or necessary changes;

o. Review the cases of such inmates as may be eligible for parole consideration and provide the appropriate parole board panel with a written recommendation regarding the case. The State parole board shall, prior to considering any inmate for release, provide the boards of trustees with a written notice of all such inmates to be considered. The boards of trustees may, in addition, review the cases of such inmates as may appeal decisions pursuant to section 14 of this amendatory act and provide the parole board with a written recommendation regarding the case, which shall be considered by the board. The State parole board shall state on the record its reasons for rejecting any recommendation made pursuant to this section.

L.1971, c. 384, s. 18, eff. Jan. 5, 1972. Amended by L.1972, c. 58, s. 2, eff. June 6, 1972; L.1979, c. 441, s. 25, eff. Feb. 21, 1980.