Establishes the "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman"

HB 729 creates an independent "Office of the Department of Corrections Ombudsman" to monitor prison conditions and investigate inmate complaints. This office directly affects incarcerated individuals, their families, and prison staff by overseeing issues like sanitation, medical care, abuse, and access to programs. Key mechanisms include annual facility inspections (more frequent for high-risk sites), collecting data on incidents like suicides and assaults, and publishing annual reports with recommendations. The office will also handle complaints and provide resources to support inmate rights, using a statewide reporting system to track facility conditions.