Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes the planning, funding, and construction of a new state prison.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to construct a new state prison with a capacity of 2,500 or more inmate beds to replace the current prison located in Draper, Utah (Secs. 3, 5 & 7).

• Requires the Prison Relocation Commission to select the location for the new state prison by August 1, 2015 and requires the choice to be approved by the Legislature during either an annual general session or a special session convened by the governor for that purpose (Sec. 9).

• Authorizes the Prison Relocation Commission to extend the deadline for submitting a prison location choice by 1 month, as many times as it decides is necessary (Sec. 9). 

• Authorizes the Prison Relocation Commission to issue general obligation bonds with a total amount not to exceed $474.7 million, and requires the proceeds of these bonds to be deposited into the “Prison Project Fund” to pay the costs of the prison project (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the municipality in which the new state prison is to be built to impose a sales tax no greater than 0.5 percent, with exemptions for the sale of certain items, including, but not limited to, the following items (Sec. 3):
• Food;
• Motor vehicles; and
• Mobile homes.

• Establishes the Prison Development Commission to consult the division on the development of the new state prison, comprised of the following members (Sec. 12 & 14):
• 3 members of the Senate;
• 4 members of the House of Representatives;
• The Executive Director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;
• The Executive Director of the Department of Corrections; and
• 1 citizen who is a resident of the community in or near where the prison is to be built, appointed by the governor.

• Repeals the establishment of the Prison Development Commission on July 1, 2020 (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the planning, funding, and construction of a new state prison.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the Division of Facilities Construction and Management to construct a new state prison with a capacity of 2,500 or more inmate beds to replace the current prison located in Draper, Utah (Secs. 3, 5 & 7).

• Requires the Prison Relocation Commission to select the location for the new state prison by August 1, 2015 and requires the choice to be approved by the Legislature during either an annual general session or a special session convened by the governor for that purpose (Sec. 9).

• Authorizes the Prison Relocation Commission to extend the deadline for submitting a prison location choice by 1 month, as many times as it decides is necessary (Sec. 9). 

• Authorizes the Prison Relocation Commission to issue general obligation bonds with a total amount not to exceed $474.7 million, and requires the proceeds of these bonds to be deposited into the “Prison Project Fund” to pay the costs of the prison project (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the municipality in which the new state prison is to be built to impose a sales tax no greater than 0.5 percent, with exemptions for the sale of certain items, including, but not limited to, the following items (Sec. 3):
• Food;
• Motor vehicles; and
• Mobile homes.

• Establishes the Prison Development Commission to consult the division on the development of the new state prison, comprised of the following members (Sec. 12 & 14):
• 3 members of the Senate;
• 4 members of the House of Representatives;
• The Executive Director of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice;
• The Executive Director of the Department of Corrections; and
• 1 citizen who is a resident of the community in or near where the prison is to be built, appointed by the governor.

• Repeals the establishment of the Prison Development Commission on July 1, 2020 (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text