Section 2203.15  Responsibilities

 

a)         Unless otherwise specified, the Director or Chief Administrative Officer may delegate responsibilities stated in this Part to another person or persons or designate another person or persons to perform the duties specified.

 

b)         No other individual may routinely perform duties whenever a Section in this Part specifically states the Director or Chief Administrative Officer shall personally perform the duties.  However, the Director or Chief Administrative Officer may designate another person or persons to perform the duties during periods of his or her temporary absence or in an emergency.

 

Section 2203.20  Legislative Communications

 

The Legislative Liaison shall be responsible for informing and communicating with the General Assembly, subject to approval of the Director.

 

Section 2203.30  Public Information

 

The Department of Central Management Services Public Information Office shall be responsible for informing the public, employees, and news media regarding the Department's policies and programs and facilitating coverage of news events, subject to approval of the Director.

 

Section 2203.40  News Media

 

a)         Representatives of the media may be admitted to youth centers with approval of the Director.  Access to youth centers shall be limited to normal business hours whenever reasonable.

 

b)         Requests for interviews with Department employees shall be referred to the Director.

 

c)         Face to face media interviews with committed youth under sentence of death shall not be permitted unless personally authorized by the Director. Other media coverage may be allowed by the Director or his or her designee. All such decisions shall be based upon, among other matters, the effect that an interview may have on the individual or other committed youth, and the effect upon safety, security, institutional order, or other penological concerns.

 

1)         Media representatives may not photograph or interview a committed youth without first obtaining his or her written consent, the written consent of his or her guardian if the committed youth is under age 17, and the approval of the Director.

 

2)         Members of the media may have access to committed youth under the same terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to members of the general public.

 

d)         Upon approval of a media request by the Director, the Director's office shall notify the Public Information Officer and the Deputy Director of the appropriate division.

 

Section 2203.50  Speaking Engagements

 

a)         Department staff are encouraged to accept speaking engagements before civic groups, professional organizations, and educational meetings, insofar as such assignments do not interfere with the administrative responsibilities of the employee. The Director shall be notified prior to any speaking engagement.

 

b)         No fees or honoraria for personal use may be accepted by the individual making the presentation.  If a sponsoring organization wishes to make a contribution, it shall be encouraged to donate to the Resident's Benefit Fund of a particular youth center or to another fund, project, or purchase that will benefit the committed youth population of a youth center.

 

Section 2203.60  Tours of Youth Centers

 

a)         Tours of a youth center of the Department shall be subject to approval by the Chief Administrative Officer.

 

b)         Tours of a maximum security youth center shall be restricted to persons 17 years of age or over except upon approval by the Director.

 

c)         Ex-offenders, relatives, or close friends of committed youth may tour a facility only upon prior written approval of the Chief Administrative Officer.

 

d)         Visitors must remain with the touring group and the staff member conducting the tour.  All visitors shall be required to abide by Department rules and procedures and the instructions of the employee conducting the tour.

 

e)         Visitors shall be prohibited from political activities, including distributing any type of political or campaign material, while on State property.