Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes a phased plan to build new correctional facilities.

Highlights:

• Defines “authority” as the public corporation organized according to the provisions of this law (Sec. 2-1).

• Alleges this act intends to implement a plan to replace existing prison facility capacity with new or renovated capacity in the prison facilities using a phased approach (Sec. 1-2).

• Authorizes the authority to sell and issue bonds in multiple series and in amounts determined by the authority to be necessary to replace existing bed space in Department of Corrections facilities through the implementation of the phased plan. The total additional bonds may not exceed $785 million (Sec. §14-2-12.c).

• Authorizes the authority to issue bonds as necessary, and subject to the limitation in this subsection, to fund any of the following Phase 2 projects (Sec. §14-2-12-2.b):

• The construction of a women's prison facility. Within one year of completion of this women's facility, the Julia Tutwiler Prison will be closed;

• The renovation and improvement, or, if necessary, the demolition and reconstruction, of existing state-owned prison facilities in Jefferson and Limestone Counties; and

• The renovation and improvement, or, if necessary, the demolition and reconstruction, of an existing state-owned men's prison facility to be selected by the authority and to be located in Barbour or Bullock County.

• Authorizes the authority to issue bonds as necessary, and subject to the limitation in this subsection, to fund the following Phase 1 projects (Sec. §14-2-12-2.a.1):

• The construction of the specialized men's prison facility; and

• The construction of the Escambia men's prison facility.

• Specifies if bond proceeds exceed the amount in previous subdivisions due to receipt of original issue premium in connection with the sale of bonds or due to any other reason, the bond proceeds above those amounts will be allocated by the authority for the expense of issuance, including capitalized interest (Sec. §14-2-12.c-3).

• Establishes the Correctional Capital Improvement Fund within the State Treasury, to be administered by the Department of Corrections. The Legislature will make appropriations to this entity to be used exclusively for the construction, renovation, and improvement of the prison facilities (Sec. §14-2-21.c).

• Requires any person entering into a prison construction contract to agree to full transparency and to share all pricing information with the authority. The authority, at its sole discretion, will have the right to require verification of competitive pricing for any portion of the proposed scope of the design and construction agreements (Sec. §14-2-28.e).

• Requires the then president of the authority to thereupon execute and deliver in the name of, and in behalf of, the authority an appropriate deed or deeds, to which the seal of the authority affixed and attested by the secretary of the authority, conveying all facilities and other assets then owned by the authority to the state, except that no such conveyance will be required if the president of the authority determines that the issuance of additional bonds to finance improvements to existing facilities is contemplated (Sec. §14-2-34).

Full Bill Text