JBC approves staff changes, funding fixes and directs revisions to DOC Sterling bill

JBC members on March 25 moved a package of technical and policy decisions as they continued work on the state’s long‑bill package, clarifying several carryovers and approving staff's recommendations on IT and capital projects. The committee also gave staff authority to revise a corrections bill creating temporary use of Centennial South’s C Tower while the Sterling prison project is underway, and asked staff to check with the Department of Corrections on any potential cost impact before final introduction.

The most consequential policy debate centered on the Department of Corrections’ plans for Sterling. JBC members voted to authorize staff to amend the bill so that, to the extent practicable, the Department must use existing state prison beds before placing people in Centennial South’s C Tower and to add a repeal date limiting the authority unless the department returns to the General Assembly. Staff and DOC officials told the committee that Sterling renovations will be done in phases and that the project could require moving roughly 250–300 inmates while work is under way. DOC also requested a one‑time appropriation for retrofit work; committee notes and staff discussion put that retrofit figure at roughly $1.8 million for temporary use of up to 316 beds in Centennial South C Tower, though the committee asked staff to confirm any transportation or other operational costs before final introduction.

The committee also addressed several budget technicals and comebacks. Staff identified an omitted $1.9 million in reappropriated funds tied to CBMS development work (the department of human services’ share), which translates to roughly $900,000 additional general fund for the CBMS comeback when combined with previously approved general‑fund elements. JBC staff asked the committee to accept the additional reappropriated funds so the comeback’s costs are fully funded; the committee approved the staff recommendation.

On workforce and grant items, committee members accepted a staff recommendation to annualize the hospitality education (ProStart) grant line back to the prior funding level rather than maintain a one‑time floor increase. The committee’s action reduced the appropriation from $500,000…