Community Correctional Facilities: Shafter Modified Community Correctional Facility.
The City of Shafter has expressed concerns about significant financial losses, estimating a loss of around $300,000 due to the operational costs associated with maintaining a vacant facility, which is deemed unsuitable for other use without costly improvements. The legislation attempts to promote local economic development by allowing the City to repurpose the facility to generate employment opportunities, especially in light of the economic difficulties exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Senate Bill No. 385, introduced by Senator Hurtado on February 10, 2021, addresses specific lease options concerning the Shafter Modified Community Correctional Facility. As per a settlement agreement from 1996, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation holds 99 one-year lease options for operating the facility, which is owned by the City of Shafter. This bill mandates that the Department release these lease options by January 31, 2022, due to the facility ceasing operations on October 31, 2020. The goal of the legislation is to mitigate economic harm to the City of Shafter, which is unable to repurpose the facility effectively due to the restrictive lease options held by the Department.
There are notable points of contention relating to the necessity of this bill. The Legislature declares a special statute is needed, arguing that a general statute would not address the unique circumstances surrounding the lease options stemming from the 1996 settlement agreement. Opponents may argue about the implications of altering the terms negotiated in the past and the effects on similar agreements in other jurisdictions.