It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1 Chapter 11-25 of the General Laws entitled "Jails and Prisons" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

{ADD 11-25-24. Correctional employees -- Sexual relations with inmates -- Felony. -- ADD} {ADD Every employee of the department of corrections or the employee of a contractor who is under contract to provide services in a correctional institution who engages in sexual penetration as defined in section 11-37-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-37 entitled "Sexual Assault" with an inmate confined therein or who is otherwise under the direct custodial supervision and control of said employee shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years or by a fine of note more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.