Mississippi 2025 Regular Session

Mississippi House Bill HB358 Compare Versions

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11 MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE 2025 Regular Session To: Corrections; County Affairs By: Representative Clark House Bill 358 AN ACT TO CREATE A SECTION TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FROM HOUSING OFFENDERS IN PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES UNLESS THE COMMISSIONER ALLOWS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INMATES TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT STATE-COUNTY WORK PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-4-1, 47-4-11, 47-5-471, 47-5-941, 47-5-943, 47-5-1211 AND 47-5-1213, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM WITH THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 2. Section 47-4-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-4-1. (1) It is lawful for there to be located within Wilkinson County and Leflore County a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity pursuant to a contractual agreement between such private entity and the federal government, any state, or a political subdivision of any state to provide correctional services to any such public entity for the confinement of inmates subject to the jurisdiction of such public entity. Any person confined in such a facility pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction from which he is sent shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of such inmates. (2) The Department of Corrections shall contract with the Board of Supervisors of Leflore County for the private incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Leflore County. Any contract must comply with the requirements of Section 47-5-1211 through Section 47-5-1227. (3) It is lawful for any county to contract with a private entity for the purpose of providing correctional services for the confinement of federal inmates subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any person confined in such a facility pursuant to the laws of the United States shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the county or the State of Mississippi, as the case may be, for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates. (4) It is lawful for there to be located within any county a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity and the federal government to provide correctional services to the United States for the confinement of federal inmates subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any person confined in a facility pursuant to the laws of the United States shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates. A person convicted of simple assault on an employee of a private correctional facility while such employee is acting within the scope of his or her duty or employment shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both. A person convicted of aggravated assault on an employee of a private correctional facility while such employee is acting within the scope of his or her duty or employment shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) years, or both. (5) The Department of Corrections may contract with the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility authorized in Chapter 904, Local and Private Laws of 1999, for the private incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Tallahatchie County. Any contract must comply with the requirements of Section 47-5-1211 through Section 47-5-1227. No state inmate shall be assigned to the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility unless the inmate cost per day is at least ten percent (10%) less than the inmate cost per day for housing a state inmate at a state correctional facility. (6) If a private entity houses state inmates, the private entity shall not displace state inmate beds with federal inmate beds unless the private entity has obtained prior written approval from the Commissioner of Corrections. (7) It is lawful for there to be located within Leflore County a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity pursuant to a contractual agreement between such private entity and the federal government, the State of Mississippi, or Leflore County for the incarceration of federal inmates. Such correctional facility may include a separate Leflore County jail which may be located on or adjacent to the correctional facility site. To further the provisions of this subsection: (a) Any private entity, the State of Mississippi, or Leflore County may enter into any agreement regarding real property or property, including, but not limited to, a lease, a ground lease and leaseback arrangement, a sublease or any other lease agreement or arrangement, as lessor or lessee. Such agreements shall not exceed forty (40) years. The Department of Corrections may enter such agreements or arrangements on behalf of the State of Mississippi; (b) The powers conferred under this subsection shall be additional and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law. Where the provisions of this subsection conflict with other law, this subsection shall control; and (c) The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates. (8) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 3. Section 47-4-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-4-11. Subject to the restriction provided under Section 1 of this act, in order for the Mississippi Department of Corrections to manage funds budgeted and allocated in its Contractual Services budget category, the commissioner of the department shall have the authority to amend, extend and/or renew the term of any lease agreement or any inmate housing agreement in connection with a private correctional facility. Notwithstanding any statutory limits to the contrary, such amendment, extension and/or renewal may be for a length of time up to and including ten (10) years as is necessary for the continued operations of such facilities and implementation of the department's duties and responsibilities in accordance with Title 47 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended. SECTION 4. Section 47-5-471, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-5-471. * * * Upon Subject to the condition provided under Section 1 of this act, the request of any county for eligible inmates, the Department of Corrections shall make available for participation in the state-county work program in the requesting county any eligible inmates. Upon request and approval of such request by the Department of Corrections, the requesting county shall arrange for transportation of such inmates from the Department of Corrections to such county. Upon receiving any inmates, the county shall be responsible for all expenses related to housing and caring for such inmates but shall be reimbursed by the Department of Corrections at the rate prescribed under Section 47-5-901(2). Regardless of any eligibility criteria established by the Department of Corrections, no inmate convicted of a sex crime, a crime of violence as defined by Section 97-3-2, or any other crime which specifically prohibits parole shall be eligible for participation in the program. The requesting county may, in its sole discretion, refuse any inmate deemed to present an undue risk to such county. SECTION 5. Section 47-5-941, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-5-941. (1) In addition to any other authority granted by law, the Department of Corrections may contract with the Wilkinson County industrial development or economic development authority for the private incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Wilkinson County. Any such contract must comply with Sections 47-5-1211 through 47-5-1227. (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 6. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-5-943. (1) The Mississippi Department of Corrections may contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of not more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove. A county or circuit judge shall not order any offender to be housed in the correctional facility authorized in Sections 47-5-943 through 47-5-953. Commitment of offenders shall not be to this facility, but shall be to the jurisdiction of the department. The commissioner shall assign newly sentenced offenders to an appropriate facility consistent with public safety. Any facility owned or leased by the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the Municipality of Walnut Grove for this purpose shall be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with American Correctional Association standards, and shall comply with all constitutional standards of the United States and the State of Mississippi and with all court orders that may now or hereinafter be applicable to the facility. The contract must comply with Sections 47-5-1211 through 47-5-1227. (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 7. 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. (c) The ability to comply with applicable laws, court orders and national correctional standards. (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 (PEER) shall contract with a certified public accounting firm to establish a state inmate cost per day using financial information of the Department of Corrections 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 as authorized by this section. (4) The rates and benefits for correctional services shall be negotiated based upon American Correction Association standards, state law and court orders. (5) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 8. Section 47-5-1213, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows: 47-5-1213. (1) The initial contract for the operation of a facility or for incarceration of inmates therein shall be for a period of not more than five (5) years with an option to renew for an additional period of two (2) years. Contracts for construction, purchase, or lease of a facility shall not exceed a term of twenty (20) years. Such contracts shall provide that the contractor shall convey the facility to the state, at the option of the state, for a total consideration of One Dollar ($1.00). Any contract for housing shall be subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature. (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs. SECTION 9. Section 1 of this act shall be codified in Chapter 4, Title 47, Mississippi Code of 1972. SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
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33 MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
44
55 2025 Regular Session
66
77 To: Corrections; County Affairs
88
99 By: Representative Clark
1010
1111 # House Bill 358
1212
1313 AN ACT TO CREATE A SECTION TO PROHIBIT THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FROM HOUSING OFFENDERS IN PRIVATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES UNLESS THE COMMISSIONER ALLOWS A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INMATES TO PARTICIPATE IN JOINT STATE-COUNTY WORK PROGRAMS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 47-4-1, 47-4-11, 47-5-471, 47-5-941, 47-5-943, 47-5-1211 AND 47-5-1213, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CONFORM WITH THE PRECEDING SECTION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
1414
1515 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
1616
1717 SECTION 1. From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
1818
1919 SECTION 2. Section 47-4-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
2020
2121 47-4-1. (1) It is lawful for there to be located within Wilkinson County and Leflore County a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity pursuant to a contractual agreement between such private entity and the federal government, any state, or a political subdivision of any state to provide correctional services to any such public entity for the confinement of inmates subject to the jurisdiction of such public entity. Any person confined in such a facility pursuant to the laws of the jurisdiction from which he is sent shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of such inmates.
2222
2323 (2) The Department of Corrections shall contract with the
2424
2525 Board of Supervisors of Leflore County for the private
2626
2727 incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Leflore County. Any contract must comply with the requirements of Section 47-5-1211 through Section 47-5-1227.
2828
2929 (3) It is lawful for any county to contract with a private entity for the purpose of providing correctional services for the confinement of federal inmates subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any person confined in such a facility pursuant to the laws of the United States shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the county or the State of Mississippi, as the case may be, for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates.
3030
3131 (4) It is lawful for there to be located within any county a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity and the federal government to provide correctional services to the United States for the confinement of federal inmates subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Any person confined in a facility pursuant to the laws of the United States shall be considered lawfully confined within this state. The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates.
3232
3333 A person convicted of simple assault on an employee of a private correctional facility while such employee is acting within the scope of his or her duty or employment shall be punished by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or both.
3434
3535 A person convicted of aggravated assault on an employee of a private correctional facility while such employee is acting within the scope of his or her duty or employment shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) years, or both.
3636
3737 (5) The Department of Corrections may contract with the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility authorized in Chapter 904, Local and Private Laws of 1999, for the private incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Tallahatchie County. Any contract must comply with the requirements of Section 47-5-1211 through Section 47-5-1227. No state inmate shall be assigned to the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility unless the inmate cost per day is at least ten percent (10%) less than the inmate cost per day for housing a state inmate at a state correctional facility.
3838
3939 (6) If a private entity houses state inmates, the private entity shall not displace state inmate beds with federal inmate beds unless the private entity has obtained prior written approval from the Commissioner of Corrections.
4040
4141 (7) It is lawful for there to be located within Leflore County a correctional facility operated entirely by a private entity pursuant to a contractual agreement between such private entity and the federal government, the State of Mississippi, or Leflore County for the incarceration of federal inmates. Such correctional facility may include a separate Leflore County jail which may be located on or adjacent to the correctional facility site. To further the provisions of this subsection:
4242
4343 (a) Any private entity, the State of Mississippi, or Leflore County may enter into any agreement regarding real property or property, including, but not limited to, a lease, a ground lease and leaseback arrangement, a sublease or any other lease agreement or arrangement, as lessor or lessee. Such agreements shall not exceed forty (40) years. The Department of Corrections may enter such agreements or arrangements on behalf of the State of Mississippi;
4444
4545 (b) The powers conferred under this subsection shall be additional and supplemental to the powers conferred by any other law. Where the provisions of this subsection conflict with other law, this subsection shall control; and
4646
4747 (c) The private entity shall assume complete responsibility for the inmates and shall be liable to the State of Mississippi for any illegal or tortious actions of the inmates.
4848
4949 (8) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
5050
5151 SECTION 3. Section 47-4-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
5252
5353 47-4-11. Subject to the restriction provided under Section 1 of this act, in order for the Mississippi Department of Corrections to manage funds budgeted and allocated in its Contractual Services budget category, the commissioner of the department shall have the authority to amend, extend and/or renew the term of any lease agreement or any inmate housing agreement in connection with a private correctional facility. Notwithstanding any statutory limits to the contrary, such amendment, extension and/or renewal may be for a length of time up to and including ten (10) years as is necessary for the continued operations of such facilities and implementation of the department's duties and responsibilities in accordance with Title 47 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, as amended.
5454
5555 SECTION 4. Section 47-5-471, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
5656
5757 47-5-471. * * * Upon Subject to the condition provided under Section 1 of this act, the request of any county for eligible inmates, the Department of Corrections shall make available for participation in the state-county work program in the requesting county any eligible inmates. Upon request and approval of such request by the Department of Corrections, the requesting county shall arrange for transportation of such inmates from the Department of Corrections to such county. Upon receiving any inmates, the county shall be responsible for all expenses related to housing and caring for such inmates but shall be reimbursed by the Department of Corrections at the rate prescribed under Section 47-5-901(2). Regardless of any eligibility criteria established by the Department of Corrections, no inmate convicted of a sex crime, a crime of violence as defined by Section 97-3-2, or any other crime which specifically prohibits parole shall be eligible for participation in the program. The requesting county may, in its sole discretion, refuse any inmate deemed to present an undue risk to such county.
5858
5959 SECTION 5. Section 47-5-941, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
6060
6161 47-5-941. (1) In addition to any other authority granted by law, the Department of Corrections may contract with the Wilkinson County industrial development or economic development authority for the private incarceration of not more than one thousand (1,000) state inmates at a facility in Wilkinson County. Any such contract must comply with Sections 47-5-1211 through 47-5-1227.
6262
6363 (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
6464
6565 SECTION 6. Section 47-5-943, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
6666
6767 47-5-943. (1) The Mississippi Department of Corrections may contract with the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the governing authorities of the Municipality of Walnut Grove, Leake County, Mississippi, to provide for the private housing, care and control of not more than one thousand five hundred (1,500) offenders who are in the custody of the Department of Corrections at a maximum security facility in Walnut Grove. A county or circuit judge shall not order any offender to be housed in the correctional facility authorized in Sections 47-5-943 through 47-5-953. Commitment of offenders shall not be to this facility, but shall be to the jurisdiction of the department. The commissioner shall assign newly sentenced offenders to an appropriate facility consistent with public safety. Any facility owned or leased by the Walnut Grove Correctional Authority or the Municipality of Walnut Grove for this purpose shall be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with American Correctional Association standards, and shall comply with all constitutional standards of the United States and the State of Mississippi and with all court orders that may now or hereinafter be applicable to the facility. The contract must comply with Sections 47-5-1211 through 47-5-1227.
6868
6969 (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
7070
7171 SECTION 7. Section 47-5-1211, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
7272
7373 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:
7474
7575 (a) The qualifications, experience and management personnel necessary to carry out the terms of the contract.
7676
7777 (b) The ability to expedite the siting, design and construction of correctional facilities.
7878
7979 (c) The ability to comply with applicable laws, court orders and national correctional standards.
8080
8181 (d) Demonstrated history of successful operation and management of other correctional facilities.
8282
8383 (2) A facility shall at all times comply with all federal and state laws, and all applicable court orders.
8484
8585 (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.
8686
8787 (b) Beginning in 2012, and every two (2) years thereafter, the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall contract with a certified public accounting firm to establish a state inmate cost per day using financial information of the Department of Corrections 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.
8888
8989 (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 as authorized by this section.
9090
9191 (4) The rates and benefits for correctional services shall be negotiated based upon American Correction Association standards, state law and court orders.
9292
9393 (5) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
9494
9595 SECTION 8. Section 47-5-1213, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
9696
9797 47-5-1213. (1) The initial contract for the operation of a facility or for incarceration of inmates therein shall be for a period of not more than five (5) years with an option to renew for an additional period of two (2) years. Contracts for construction, purchase, or lease of a facility shall not exceed a term of twenty (20) years. Such contracts shall provide that the contractor shall convey the facility to the state, at the option of the state, for a total consideration of One Dollar ($1.00). Any contract for housing shall be subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.
9898
9999 (2) From the effective date of this act, the Commissioner of Corrections is prohibited from housing offenders in private correctional facilities unless the commissioner utilizes a minimum of ten percent (10%) of eligible incarcerated offenders in joint state-county work programs that the Department of Corrections has agreed to provide offenders for such work programs.
100100
101101 SECTION 9. Section 1 of this act shall be codified in Chapter 4, Title 47, Mississippi Code of 1972.
102102
103103 SECTION 10. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.