HF 1134

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 03/15/2023 10:40am

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; requiring the commissioner of management and
budget to submit evaluations of capital improvement project requests relating to
jails to the legislature; requiring a study and report of county jails by the
commissioner of corrections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin REGIONAL AND COUNTY JAILS; STUDY AND REPORT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Study. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of corrections must study and make
recommendations on the consolidation or merger of county jails and alternatives to
incarceration for persons experiencing mental health disorders. The commissioner must
engage and solicit feedback from citizens who live in communities served by facilities that
may be impacted by the commissioner's recommendations for the consolidation or merger
of jails. The commissioner must consult with the following individuals on the study and
recommendations:
new text end

new text begin (1) county sheriffs;
new text end

new text begin (2) county and city attorneys that prosecute offenders;
new text end

new text begin (3) chief law enforcement officers;
new text end

new text begin (4) administrators of county jail facilities; and
new text end

new text begin (5) district court administrators.
new text end

new text begin Each party receiving a request for information from the commissioner under this section
shall provide the requested information in a timely manner.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of corrections must file a report with the chairs and
ranking minority members of the senate and house of representatives committees and
divisions with jurisdiction over public safety and capital investment on the study and
recommendations under subdivision 1 on or before December 1, 2024. The report must, at
a minimum, provide the following information:
new text end

new text begin (1) the daily average number of offenders incarcerated in each county jail facility:
new text end

new text begin (i) that are in pretrial detention;
new text end

new text begin (ii) that cannot afford to pay bail;
new text end

new text begin (iii) for failure to pay fines and fees;
new text end

new text begin (iv) for offenses that stem from controlled substance addiction or mental health disorders;
new text end

new text begin (v) for nonfelony offenses;
new text end

new text begin (vi) that are detained pursuant to contracts with other authorities; and
new text end

new text begin (vii) for supervised release and probation violations;
new text end

new text begin (2) the actual cost of building a new jail facility, purchasing another facility, or repairing
a current facility;
new text end

new text begin (3) the age of current jail facilities;
new text end

new text begin (4) county population totals and trends;
new text end

new text begin (5) county crime rates and trends;
new text end

new text begin (6) the proximity of current jails to courthouses, probation services, social services,
treatment providers, and work-release employment opportunities;
new text end

new text begin (7) specific recommendations for alternatives to incarceration for persons experiencing
mental health disorders; and
new text end

new text begin (8) specific recommendations on the consolidation or merger of county jail facilities
and operations, including:
new text end

new text begin (i) where consolidated facilities should be located;
new text end

new text begin (ii) which counties are best suited for consolidation;
new text end

new text begin (iii) the projected costs of construction, renovation, or purchase of the facility; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) the projected cost of operating the facility.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Evaluation. new text end

new text begin The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of
management and budget, must evaluate the need of any capital improvement project that
requests an appropriation of state capital budget money during an odd-numbered year to
construct a jail facility or for capital improvements to expand the number of incarcerated
offenders at an existing jail facility. The commissioner shall use the report under subdivision
2 to inform the evaluation. The commissioner must submit all evaluations under this
subdivision by January 15 of each even-numbered year to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the senate and house of representatives committees and divisions with jurisdiction
over public safety and capital investment on the study and recommendations under this
subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end