HB 1609-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

Provides that, not later than December 31, 2003, the sentencing guidelines commission shall present to the legislature a plan for establishing pilot regional correctional facilities.

Requires the plan for establishing pilot regional correctional facilities to include, but is not limited to, the following: (1) A plan for increasing the space availability in local and county jails for pretrial detainees;

(2) An efficient and effective plan for joint use of total confinement beds by local and state government;

(3) A description of proposed shared and/or revised jurisdiction and operational responsibility, including the possibility of establishing a regional corrections authority;

(4) A summary of proposed changes to the criminal code reflecting revised housing jurisdiction;

(5) A plan to account for the inmate population eligible for placement in pilot regional correctional facilities which includes: Pretrial detainees, inmates serving sentences of sixty days to twenty-four months, and inmates serving terms of confinement totaling more than one year. (a) Other than pretrial detainees, only inmates serving sentences of sixty days to twenty-four months are eligible for placement in regional correctional facilities. (b) Regional correctional facilities must accept inmates serving terms of confinement totaling more than one year;

(6) A review of treatment services and programs intended to meet the needs of special populations including drug and substance abuse, mental health, and special medical needs;

(7) An estimate of potential benefits to local and county jail operators and to the state, which could be realized by implementation of pilot programs;

(8) A proposed method for identifying pilot regional correctional facility sites;

(9) A methodology for evaluating the costs benefit of operation of pilot facilities; and

(10) Recommendations for sharing capacity, resources, and funding of the construction and operation cost of the facilities.