D.
- 1. The Members, officers, executive director, and employees of the Interstate Commission shall be immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused by or arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties or responsibilities; provided, that nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to protect any such person from suit and/or liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any such person.
- 2. The Interstate Commission shall defend the commissioner of a compacting state, or the commissioner's representatives or employees, or the Interstate Commission's representatives or employees in any civil action seeking to impose liability, arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities or that the defendant had a reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities. Provided, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from intentional wrongdoing on the part of such person.
3. The Interstate Commission shall indemnify and hold the commissioner of a Compacting State, the appointed designees or employees, or the Interstate Commission's representatives or employees, harmless in the amount of any settlement or judgment obtained against such persons arising out of any actual or alleged act, error, or omission that occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities, or that such person had reasonable basis for believing occurred within the scope of Interstate Commission employment, duties, or responsibilities; provided, that the actual or alleged act, error, or omission did not result from gross negligence or intentional wrongdoing on the part of such person.
ARTICLE VII.
ACTIVITIES OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
- A. The Interstate Commission shall meet and take such actions as are consistent with the provisions of this Compact.
- B. Except as otherwise provided in this compact and unless a greater percentage is required by the bylaws, in order to constitute an act of the Interstate Commission, each act shall have been taken at a meeting of the Interstate Commission and shall have received an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present.
- C. Each member of the Interstate Commission shall have the right and power to cast a vote to which that Compacting State is entitled and to participate in the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission. A Member shall vote in person on behalf of the state and shall not delegate a vote to another member state. However, a State Council shall appoint another authorized representative, in the absence of the commissioner from that state, to cast a vote on behalf of the member state at a specified meeting. The bylaws may provide for Members' participation in meetings by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication. Any voting conducted by telephone or other means of telecommunication or electronic communication shall be subject to the same quorum requirements of meetings where members are present in person.
- D. The Interstate Commission shall meet at least once during each calendar year. The chair of the Interstate Commission may call additional meetings at any time and, upon the request of a majority of the members, shall call additional meetings.
- E. The Interstate Commission's bylaws shall establish conditions and procedures under which the Interstate Commission shall make its information and official records available to the public for inspection or copying. The Interstate Commission may exempt from disclosure any information or official records to the extent they would adversely affect personal privacy rights or proprietary interests. In promulgating such rules, the Interstate Commission may make available to law enforcement agencies records and information otherwise exempt from disclosure and may enter into agreements with law enforcement agencies to receive or exchange information or records subject to nondisclosure and confidentiality provisions.
F. Public notice shall be given of all meetings, and all meetings shall be open to the public except as set forth in the rules or as otherwise provided in the Compact. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate rules consistent with the principles contained in the Government in Sunshine Act, Section 552(b), of Title 5 of the United States Code. The Interstate Commission and any of its committees may close a meeting to the public where it determines by a two-thirds vote that an open meeting would be likely to:
- 1. Relate solely to the Interstate Commission's internal personnel practices and procedures;
- 2. Disclose matters specifically exempted from disclosure by statute;
- 3. Disclose trade secrets or commercial or financial information which is privileged or confidential;
- 4. Involve accusing any person of a crime or formally censuring any person;
- 5. Disclose information of a personal nature where disclosure would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy;
- 6. Disclose investigatory records compiled for law enforcement purposes;
- 7. Disclose information contained in or related to examination, operating or condition reports prepared by, or on behalf of, or for the use of, the Interstate Commission with respect to a regulated entity for the purpose of regulation or supervision of such entity;
- 8. Disclose information, the premature disclosure of which would significantly endanger the life of a person or the stability of a regulated entity;
- 9. Relate specifically to the Interstate Commission's issuance of a subpoena or its participation in a civil action or proceeding.
- G. For every meeting closed pursuant to this provision, the Interstate Commission's chief legal officer shall publicly certify that, in the officer's opinion, the meeting may be closed to the public and shall reference each relevant exemptive provision.
- H. The Interstate Commission shall keep minutes which shall fully and clearly describe all matters discussed in any meeting and shall provide a full and accurate summary of any actions taken, and the reasons therefor, including a description of each of the views expressed on any item and the record of any roll-call vote (reflected in the vote of each member on the question). All documents considered in connection with any action shall be identified in such minutes.
I. The Interstate Commission shall collect standardized data concerning the interstate movement of offenders as directed through its Bylaws and Rules which shall specify the data to be collected, the means of collection, and data exchange and reporting requirements.
ARTICLE VIII.
RULEMAKING FUNCTIONS OF THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
- A. The Interstate Commission shall promulgate rules in order to effectively and efficiently achieve the purposes of the compact including transition rules governing administration of the compact during the period in which it is being considered and enacted by the states.
- B. Rulemaking shall occur pursuant to the criteria set forth in this Article and the Bylaws and Rules adopted pursuant thereto. Such rulemaking shall substantially conform to the principles of the federal Administrative Procedure Act, Section 551, et seq. of Title 5 of the United States Code, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, App. 2, Section 1, et seq. of Title 5 of the United State Code, as may be amended (APA). All Rules and amendments shall become binding as of the date specified in each Rule or amendment.
- C. If a majority of the legislatures of the Compacting States rejects a Rule by enactment of a statute or resolution in the same manner used to adopt the compact, then such Rule shall have no further force and effect in any Compacting State.
D. When promulgating a rule, the Interstate Commission shall:
- 1. Publish the proposed rule stating with particularity the text of the rule which is proposed and the reason for the proposed rule;
- 2. Allow persons to submit written data, facts, opinions, and arguments which information shall be publicly available;
- 3. Provide an opportunity for an informal hearing; and
- 4. Promulgate a final rule and its effective date, if appropriate, based on the rulemaking record.
- E. Not later than sixty (60) days after a Rule is promulgated, any interested person may file a petition in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or in the Federal District Court where the Interstate Commission's principal office is located for judicial review of such Rule. If the court finds that the Interstate Commission's action is not supported by substantial evidence (as defined in the APA) in the rulemaking record, the court shall hold the Rule unlawful and set it aside.
F. Subjects to be addressed in rules within twelve (12) months after the first meeting must at a minimum include:
- 1. Notice to victims and opportunity to be heard;
- 2. Offender registration and compliance;
- 3. Violations/returns;
- 4. Transfer procedures and forms;
- 5. Eligibility for transfer;
- 6. Collection of restitution and fees from offenders;
- 7. Data collection and reporting;
- 8. Level of supervision to be provided by the receiving state;
- 9. Transition rules governing the operation of the compact and the Interstate Commission during all or part of the period between the effective date of the compact and the date on which the last eligible state adopts the compact;
- 10. Mediation, arbitration, and dispute resolution.
- G. The existing rules governing the operation of the previous compact superceded by this act shall be null and void twelve (12) months after the first meeting of the Interstate Commission created hereunder.
H. Upon determination by the Interstate Commission that an emergency exists, it may promulgate an emergency rule which shall become effective immediately upon adoption; provided, that the usual rulemaking procedures shall be retroactively applied to said rule as soon as reasonably possible, in no event later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of the rule.
ARTICLE IX.
OVERSIGHT, ENFORCEMENT, AND
DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY THE INTERSTATE COMMISSION
A.
- 1. The Interstate Commission shall oversee the interstate movement of adult offenders in the Compacting States and shall monitor such activities being administered in Non-Compacting States which may significantly affect Compacting States.
- 2. The courts and executive agencies in each Compacting State shall enforce this Compact and shall take all actions necessary and appropriate to effectuate the Compact's purposes and intent. In any judicial or administrative proceeding in a Compacting State pertaining to the subject matter of this Compact which may affect the powers, responsibilities or actions of the Interstate Commission, the Interstate Commission shall be entitled to receive all service of process in any such proceeding and shall have standing to intervene in the proceeding for all purposes.
B.
- 1. The Compacting States shall report to the Interstate Commission on issues or activities of concern to them and cooperate with and support the Interstate Commission in the discharge of its duties and responsibilities.
- 2. The Interstate Commission shall attempt to resolve any disputes or other issues which are subject to the Compact and which may arise among Compacting States and Non-Compacting States.
- 3. The Interstate Commission shall enact a Bylaw or promulgate a Rule providing for both mediation and binding dispute resolution for disputes among Compacting States.
C. The Interstate Commission, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, shall enforce the provisions of this Compact using any or all means set forth in Article XII, Section B, of this Compact.
ARTICLE X.
FINANCE
- A. The Interstate Commission shall pay or provide for the payment of the reasonable expenses of its establishment, organization, and ongoing activities.
- B. The Interstate Commission shall levy on and collect an annual assessment from each Compacting State to cover the cost of the internal operations and activities of the Interstate Commission and its staff which must be in a total amount sufficient to cover the Interstate Commission's annual budget as approved each year. The aggregate annual assessment amount shall be allocated based upon a formula to be determined by the Interstate Commission, taking into consideration the population of the state and the volume of interstate movement of offenders in each compacting state and shall promulgate a rule binding upon all Compacting States which governs said assessment.
- C. The Interstate Commission shall not incur any obligations of any kind prior to securing the funds adequate to meet the same. Nor shall the Interstate Commission pledge the credit of any of the Compacting States except by and with the authority of the compacting state.
D. The Interstate Commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Interstate Commission shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the Interstate Commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the Interstate Commission.
ARTICLE XI.
COMPACTING STATES, EFFECTIVE DATE, AND AMENDMENT
- A. Any state, as defined in Article II of this Compact, is eligible to become a Compacting State. The Compact shall become effective and binding upon legislative enactment of the Compact into law by no fewer than thirty-five of the States. The initial effective date shall be the later of July 1, 2001, or upon enactment into law by the thirty-fifth jurisdiction. Thereafter, it shall become effective and binding as to any other Compacting State upon enactment of the Compact into law by that State. The governors of Nonmember states or their designees will be invited to participate in Interstate Commission activities on a nonvoting basis prior to adoption of the compact by all states and territories of the United States.
B. Amendments to the Compact may be proposed by the Interstate Commission for enactment by the Compacting States. No amendment shall become effective and binding upon the Interstate Commission and the Compacting States unless and until it is enacted into law by unanimous consent of the Compacting States.
ARTICLE XII.
WITHDRAWAL, DEFAULT, TERMINATION, AND JUDICIAL ENFORCEMENT
A.
- 1. Once effective, the Compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each Compacting State; provided that a Compacting State may withdraw from the compact ("Withdrawing State") by enacting a statute specifically repealing the statute which enacted the Compact into law. The effective date of withdrawal is the effective date of the repeal.
- 2. The Withdrawing State shall immediately notify the Chairperson of the Interstate Commission in writing upon the introduction of legislation repealing this Compact in the Withdrawing State. The Interstate Commission shall notify the other Compacting States of the Withdrawing State's intent to withdraw within sixty (60) days of its receipt of the notice.
- 3. The Withdrawing State is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of withdrawal, including any obligations, the performance of which extend beyond the effective date of withdrawal.
- 4. Reinstatement following withdrawal of any Compacting State shall occur upon the reenactment of the Compact by the Withdrawing State or upon such later date as determined by the Interstate Commission.
B. If the Interstate Commission determines that any Compacting State has at any time defaulted ("Defaulting State") in the performance of any of its obligations or responsibilities under this Compact, the Bylaws or any duly promulgated Rules, the Interstate Commission may impose any or all of the following penalties:
- a. fines, fees, and costs in such amounts as are deemed to be reasonable as fixed by the Interstate Commission,
- b. remedial training and technical assistance as directed by the Interstate Commission,
- c. suspension and termination of membership in the compact. Suspension shall be imposed only after all other reasonable means of securing compliance under the Bylaws and Rules have been exhausted. Immediate notice of suspension shall be given by the Interstate Commission to the Governor, the Chief Justice or Chief Judicial Officer of the state, the majority and minority leaders of the defaulting state's legislature, and the State Council.
C.
- 1. The grounds for default include, but are not limited to, failure of a Compacting State to perform such obligations or responsibilities imposed upon it by this Compact, Interstate Commission Bylaws, or duly promulgated Rules. The Interstate Commission shall immediately notify the Defaulting State in writing of the penalty imposed by the Interstate Commission on the Defaulting State pending a cure of the default. The Interstate Commission shall stipulate the conditions and the time period within which the Defaulting State must cure its default. If the Defaulting State fails to cure the default within the time period specified by the Interstate Commission, in addition to any other penalties imposed herein, the Defaulting State may be terminated from the Compact upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the Compacting States and all rights, privileges, and benefits conferred by this Compact shall be terminated from the effective date of suspension.
- 2. Within sixty (60) days of the effective date of termination of a Defaulting State, the Interstate Commission shall notify the Governor, the Chief Justice or Chief Judicial Officer, and the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Defaulting State's Legislature and the State Council of such termination.
- 3. The defaulting state is responsible for all assessments, obligations, and liabilities incurred through the effective date of termination including any obligations, the performance of which extends beyond the effective date of termination.
- 4. The Interstate Commission shall not bear any costs relating to the Defaulting State unless otherwise mutually agreed upon between the Interstate Commission and the Defaulting State. Reinstatement following termination of any compacting state requires both a reenactment of the Compact by the Defaulting State and the approval of the Interstate Commission pursuant to the Rules.
- D. The Interstate Commission may, by a majority vote of the Members, initiate legal action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia or, at the discretion of the Interstate Commission, in the Federal District where the Interstate Commission has its offices to enforce compliance with the provisions of the Compact, its duly promulgated Rules and Bylaws against any Compacting State in default. In the event judicial enforcement is necessary the prevailing party shall be awarded all costs of such litigation including reasonable attorney fees.
E. The Compact dissolves effective upon the date of the withdrawal or default of a Compacting State which reduces membership in the Compact to one Compacting State. Upon dissolution of this Compact, the Compact becomes null and void and shall be of no further force or effect, and the business and affairs of the Interstate Commission shall be wound up, and any surplus funds shall be distributed in accordance with the bylaws.
ARTICLE XIII.
SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION
- A. The provisions of this Compact shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence or provision is deemed unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Compact shall be enforceable.
B. The provisions of this Compact shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes.
ARTICLE XIV.
BINDING EFFECT OF COMPACT AND OTHER LAWS
- A. Nothing in this Compact prevents the enforcement of any other law of a Compacting State that is not inconsistent with this Compact. All Compacting States' laws conflicting with this Compact are superseded to the extent of the conflict.
B.
- 1. All lawful actions of the Interstate Commission, including all Rules and Bylaws promulgated by the Interstate Commission, are binding upon the Compacting States.
- 2. All agreements between the Interstate Commission and the Compacting States are binding in accordance with their terms.
- 3. Upon the request of a party to a conflict over meaning or interpretation of Interstate Commission actions, and upon a majority vote of the Compacting States, the Interstate Commission may issue advisory opinions regarding such meaning or interpretation.
- 4. In the event any provision of this Compact exceeds the constitutional limits imposed on the legislature of any Compacting State, the obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction sought to be conferred by such provision upon the Interstate Commission shall be ineffective. Such obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction shall remain in the Compacting State and shall be exercised by the agency in the state to which such obligations, duties, powers, or jurisdiction are delegated by law in effect at the time this compact becomes effective.