Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026

The Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026 mandates the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to submit an annual summary report to Congress and other oversight bodies detailing physical damage from major disasters at its facilities and contract prisons. This report must comprehensively cover the effects on inmates and staff, including data on injuries, access to essential services like medical care, food, and water, and the consideration of early release or home confinement. It also requires reporting on inmate grievances, the cost of damage, and the impact on resources, ensuring the health, safety, and civil rights of the correctional population are upheld. The bill further requires the BOP report to include a corrective action plan to improve emergency preparedness for various disasters, complete with an implementation timeline and legislative recommendations to Congress. Additionally, the Director of the BOP must appoint an official responsible for this corrective action plan within 90 days of the Act's enactment. Finally, the legislation expands the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) board from ten to fourteen members, adding specific expertise such as a formerly incarcerated individual or advocate, an emergency response coordinator, a public health expert, and a BOP labor union representative. The NIC is also mandated to conduct at least one public field hearing within a year to discuss integrating best practices into correctional facility emergency preparedness and recovery efforts, focusing on inmate care, early release, and accommodations for individuals with disabilities.