Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Commissary Rec Fund topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee asks DOC for commissary receipts and use of rec-fund commissions
Summary
Lawmakers questioned Department of Corrections staff about commissary contracts, a reported 32% commission rate, and how commissary commissions flow to recreation funds. DOC said staff salaries once paid from the rec fund are now covered by the general fund and agreed to provide multi-year receipts and gross-commission data.
The House Corrections and Institutions Committee pressed Department of Corrections officials on May 7 for details about commissary contracts, commission rates and how that revenue is spent in facility recreation funds.
Committee members said testimony from outside witnesses last week suggested commissary vendors provide substantial revenue to facilities; the committee asked DOC to clarify the size and use of those funds and whether the current arrangements create a conflict of interest or pricing premium for people in custody.
DOC staff provided operational details: vendor commissions are remitted monthly and the commission rate was described as approximately 32% of gross sales. DOC said those commissions historically funded recreation coordinators and rec-yard programming, but because commissions and balances declined over time staffing costs were shifted to the department’s general fund and those salaries are no longer paid from commissary revenue. DOC said remaining rec-fund money pays for recreation items and programs—basketballs, tournaments, video-game systems, furniture and similar items—based on requests from facility rec committees.
On a question about scale, a DOC financial contact told committee staff there is about $120,000 in the combined rec funds across all facilities at present; DOC also flagged that the reported $1.1 million figure discussed earlier in the meeting represented staffing and general-fund figures rather than commissary balances. Committee members requested historical gross-receipt and commission data for the last two fiscal years and an accounting of how commissary-derived revenue was spent in the same period. DOC agreed to provide receipts and average annual commission figures and to break down per-facility totals.
Committee members discussed possible alternatives—state-run commissary, different procurement approaches and whether lower commissary prices should be prioritized over funding recreation. DOC staff cautioned that procurement rules (Bulletin 3.5 and state contracting processes) and current budget constraints limit rapid alternatives and said any change with fiscal impact should be coordinated early in the budget cycle.
Next steps: DOC will provide gross-sales and commission data by facility for recent fiscal years, a current rec-fund balance report and an itemized list of rec-fund expenditures.
