Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §3012 is enacted to read:

§3012.__Director of religious services

1.__Director of religious services.__The commissioner shall appoint a director of religious services.__The director shall report directly to the commissioner.

2.__Definitions.__As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

A.__"Department facilities" means a correctional facility, detention facility or a facility for which the department is required to establish standards pursuant to section 1208 or 1208-A.

B.__"Director" means the director of religious services.

3.__Duties.__The duties of the director include:

A.__Providing oversight, supervision and evaluation of religious programs of the department;

B.__Conducting an assessment of the religious needs of department facilities and clients;

C.__Researching national efforts in order to improve religious services in department facilities;

D.__Establishing a communication network among department chaplains, county jail ministries and other providers of religious services to clients in the State;

E.__Increasing the public's knowledge of religious needs of clients through partnership with the Maine Council of Churches or a successor organization;

F.__Establishing standard practices for the education and training of religious volunteers;

G.__Acting as a clearinghouse and contact for churches or religious groups in the State interested in contributing time or resources to department ministries, supplying information about volunteer opportunities to churches and working with churches on the transition of clients who are reentering communities; and