2. It shall be the duty of the advisory board to review and comment on supervision issues, the development and implementation of drug and alcohol treatment programs for parolees, and any other issues as requested by the State Parole Board, taking into consideration all relevant research. The advisory board shall sponsor conferences with criminal justice administrators and community members, including treatment providers, in order to educate all interested parties in the importance of relapse prevention and treatment for specialized cases, and to address issues such as lowering costs, developing protocols for confidentiality, identifying the type and amount of treatment that should be available, and promoting community involvement in the reintegration process. The advisory board may make recommendations to the Commissioner of Corrections, the Chairman of the State Parole Board, the Legislature and the Governor in these matters.

The advisory board shall meet at least semiannually and may hold hearings at any place or places it shall designate during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The State Parole Board shall have primary responsibility for providing staff services and other necessary support to the board. The advisory board may also request the assistance and services of the employees of any State, county or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, task force or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes. The advisory board may, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes, employ stenographic and clerical assistants and incur travel and miscellaneous expenses necessary for the performance of its duties.

L.1997,c.215,s.2; amended 2001, c.79, s.4.