Bill Text: MS SB2379 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

Mississippi Senate Bill 2379 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Incarceration cost report; PEER to submit biennially/clarify cost-per-day index.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Failed) 2012-03-06 - Died In Committee [SB2379 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2012-SB2379-Introduced.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2012 Regular Session

To: Corrections; Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency

By: Senator(s) Jackson (32nd)

Senate Bill 2379

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 47-5-1211, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THE PEER COMMITTEE TO PRODUCE AN INCARCERATION COST REPORT EVERY TWO YEARS FOLLOWING 2012; TO PROVIDE FOR A CURRENT COST-BASED STANDARD FOR PRODUCING THE REPORT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 47-5-1211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

47-5-1211. (1) A contract for private correctional facilities or services shall not be entered into unless the contractor has demonstrated that it has:

(a) The qualifications, experience and management personnel necessary to carry out the terms of the contract.

(b) The ability to expedite the siting, design and construction of correctional facilities.

(d) Demonstrated history of successful operation and management of other correctional facilities.

(2) A facility shall at all times comply with all federal and state laws, and all applicable court orders.

(3) (a) No contract for private incarceration shall be entered into unless the cost of the private operation, including the state's cost for monitoring the private operation, offers a cost savings of at least ten percent (10%) to the Department of Corrections for at least the same level and quality of service offered by the Department of Corrections.

(b) Beginning in 2012, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review shall contract * * * with a certified public accounting firm to establish a state inmate cost per day using the Department of Corrections' financial information for the most recently completed fiscal year. The state inmate cost per day shall be certified as required by this section. The certified cost shall be used as the basis for measuring the validity of the ten percent (10%) savings of the contractor costs.

(c) Prior to engaging a certified public accountant, the PEER Committee, in conjunction with the Department of Corrections, shall develop a current cost-based model that will serve as a basis for the report produced by authority of this section.

(4) The rates and benefits for correctional services shall be negotiated based upon American Correction Association standards, state law and court orders.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2012.