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REFERENCE TITLE: private prisons; contracts; prohibition |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature First Regular Session 2023
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HB 2247 |
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Introduced by Representative De Los Santos
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An Act
repealing section 41-1608, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 41, chapter 11, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding a new section 41-1608; amending section 41-1609, Arizona Revised Statutes; repealing sections 41-1609.01 and 41-1609.02, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the state department of corrections.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Repeal
Section 41-1608, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.
Sec. 2. Title 41, chapter 11, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section 41-1608, to read:
41-1608. Administration of correctional health care services; definition
A. Notwithstanding any other law, beginning from and after june 30, 2024, the department shall administer all correctional health care services and may not enter into a contract with a private entity to ADMINISTER correctional health care services.
B. For the purposes of this section, "correctional health care services" includes all medical, mental health and dental services that are provided to a prisoner within a state owned and operated facility.
Sec. 3. Section 41-1609, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
41-1609. Agreements with federal or private agencies and institutions; contract review; emergency contracts
A. The department may enter into agreements with the federal government, other states or agencies of the federal government or other states for such compensation upon on which they agree to accept or deliver adult offenders or to administer correctional programs. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 35-193, any funds monies received by the department under the agreements shall be kept in a separate revolving fund for current usage and shall not revert to the state general fund if unexpended at the close of a fiscal year.
B. beginning from and after the effective date of this amendment to this section, the department may not enter into a new contract with any private or public institution that is located inside or outside this state for facilities or the operation of facilities that are dedicated to the confinement of persons who are committed to the department. Notwithstanding chapter 4, article 7 of this title and article 4 of this chapter, the contract may include a purchase option and if the contract has a per diem provision the contract may include a provision that allows a portion of the per diem to be applied to reduce the purchase price.
C. The department shall submit all contracts entered into pursuant to subsection B of this section to the attorney general to determine if the contract is within the authority granted under the laws of this state and in proper form. All contracts involving the detention or incarceration of adult offenders shall conform to the requirements of section 41-1609.01.
D. C. Notwithstanding subsection C B of this section, the department may enter into emergency contracts pursuant to section 41-2537 with private or public institutions for facilities or the operation of facilities that are dedicated to the confinement of persons who are committed to the department.
E. D. The director may declare an emergency for acts of God, natural catastrophes, prison riots and overcrowding. In an emergency, the director shall:
1. Confine persons who are committed to the department in either of the following:
(a) An existing public institution.
(b) A private institution that is described in subsection B of this section.
2. Up to twenty-four hours before declaring the emergency, notify the governor and the attorney general of the emergency and the need to relocate persons who are committed to the department to another existing public or private facility established pursuant to sections 41-1609.01 and 41-1609.02.
3. Within thirty days after declaring the emergency, determine the length of the emergency confinement. If the director determines that the emergency confinement will exceed six months in duration, the emergency contract shall comply with sections 41-1609.01 and 41-1609.02.
F. e. Notwithstanding subsection E D, paragraph 2 of this section, if the director declares that an emergency exists due to the overcrowding of a public or private correctional facility, the director shall discuss with the governor, the attorney general and the majority and minority leadership in the senate and the house of representatives relocating the inmates from the overcrowded facility to another facility before relocating the inmates.
G. f. An emergency contract shall not exceed one year in duration.
Sec. 4. Repeal
Sections 41-1609.01 and 41-1609.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, are repealed.