(a) Prior to filling a vacancy for warden by appointment pursuant to Section 6050, or superintendent pursuant to Section 1049 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, the Governor shall first submit to the Inspector General the names of candidates for the position of warden or superintendent for review of their qualifications.
(b) (1) Upon receipt of the names of those candidates and their completed personal data questionnaires, the Inspector General shall employ appropriate confidential procedures to evaluate and determine the qualifications of each candidate with regard to his or her ability to discharge the duties of the office to which the appointment or nomination is made.
(2) Within 90 days of submission by the Governor of those names, the Inspector General shall advise in confidence to the Governor his or her recommendation whether the candidate is exceptionally well-qualified, well-qualified, qualified, or not qualified and the reasons therefore, and may report, in confidence, any other information that the Inspector General deems pertinent to the qualifications of the candidate.
(c) In reviewing the qualifications of a candidate for the position of warden or superintendent, the Inspector General shall consider, among other appropriate factors, his or her experience in effectively managing correctional facilities and inmate or ward populations; ability to deal effectively with employees, detained persons and other interested persons in addressing management, confinement, and safety issues in an effective, fair, and professional manner; and knowledge of correctional best practices.
(d) The Inspector General shall establish and adopt rules and procedures regarding the review of the qualifications of candidates for the position of warden or superintendent. Those rules and procedures shall establish appropriate, confidential methods for disclosing to the candidate the subject matter of substantial and credible adverse allegations received regarding the candidate’s reputation and integrity which, unless rebutted, would be determinative of the candidate’s unsuitability for appointment. A rule or procedure shall not be adopted that permits the disclosure to the candidate of information from which the candidate may infer the source, and information shall neither be disclosed to the candidate nor be obtainable by any process that would jeopardize the confidentiality of communications from persons whose opinion has been sought on the candidate’s qualifications.
(e) All communications, written, verbal, or otherwise, of and to the Governor, the Governor’s authorized agents or employees, including, but not limited to, the Governor’s Legal Affairs Secretary and Appointments Secretary, or of and to the Inspector General in furtherance of the purposes of this section are absolutely privileged from disclosure and confidential, and any communication made in the discretion of the Governor or the Inspector General with a candidate or person providing information in furtherance of the purposes of this section shall not constitute a waiver of the privilege or a breach of confidentiality.
(f) When the Governor has appointed a person to the position of warden or superintendent who has been found not qualified by the Inspector General, the Inspector General shall make public that finding, after due notice to the appointee of his or her intention to do so. That notice and disclosure shall not constitute a waiver of privilege or breach of confidentiality with respect to communications of or to the Inspector General concerning the qualifications of the appointee.
(g) A person or entity shall not be liable for any injury caused by any act or failure to act, be it negligent, intentional, discretionary, or otherwise, in the furtherance of the purposes of this section, including, but not limited to, providing or receiving any information, making any recommendations, and giving any reasons therefore.
(h) As used in this section, the term “Inspector General” includes employees and agents of the Office of the Inspector General.
(i) At any time prior to the receipt of the review from the Inspector General specified in subdivision (b), the Governor may withdraw the name of any person submitted to the Inspector General for evaluation pursuant to this section.
(j) No candidate for the position of warden or superintendent may be appointed until the Inspector General has advised the Governor pursuant to this section, or until 90 days have elapsed after submission of the candidate’s name to the Inspector General, whichever occurs earlier. The requirement of this subdivision shall not apply to any vacancy in the position of warden or superintendent occurring within the 90 days preceding the expiration of the Governor’s term of office, provided, however, that with respect to those vacancies, the Governor shall be required to submit any candidate’s name to the Inspector General in order to provide him or her an opportunity, if time permits, to review and make a report.
(k) This section shall not be construed as imposing an additional requirement for an appointment or nomination to the position of warden or superintendent, nor shall anything in this section be construed as adding any additional qualifications for the position of warden or superintendent.
(Amended by Stats. 2013, Ch. 30, Sec. 10. (SB 74) Effective June 27, 2013.)