An act relating to prohibition on the transfer of Vermont inmates to an out-of-state correctional facility

This bill prohibits the transfer of Vermont inmates to correctional facilities outside the state, directly affecting the Department of Corrections and incarcerated individuals. It amends existing statutes to remove the Commissioner of Corrections' authority to order inmate transfers to out-of-state facilities and repeals provisions related to using competitive bidding for such placements. The legislation also clarifies the intent to create new work camps within Vermont to reduce reliance on out-of-state housing, while specifying that new work camps should only house nonviolent offenders who have already served part of their sentence in a state facility. These changes take effect on January 1, 2025, aiming to keep inmates within Vermont for oversight, cost, and family visitation reasons.