Corrections committee preliminarily backs $300,000 to convert St. John's Bridal into treatment site; committee discusses $1M subaccount issue tied to state‑col­

The House Corrections & Institutions Committee reviewed several capital and cash‑fund items related to corrections and related infrastructure and indicated preliminary support for two items: a $300,000 appropriation to convert the St. John’s Bridal facility to treatment services, and discussion of a roughly $1 million balance in a cash‑fund subaccount that originated from state‑college project appropriations.

Committee members said they had “agreed to” the $300,000 conversion in principle and that staff would circulate final language from Ben describing conditions. Members stressed the legislature wants to see bids and a clearer description of what the treatment program would look like before final approval or release of funds.

On cash funds, members discussed a prior $7.5 million appropriation for state colleges that Appropriations placed in a subaccount (subaccount b) for other infrastructure and reserves. The committee said Vail Hall (spelled in testimony as Vail) and Greenhall projects did not proceed as originally anticipated; as a result, Appropriations used some of that cash and left about $1,000,000 in a subaccount. The governor’s capital proposal includes that $1,000,000 in the committee’s capital bill, but committee members noted they had relinquished authority over that amount when they allowed Appropriations to use it last year and that transfers of cash funds remain subject to negotiation between committees.

Committee members cautioned that any item that involves moving cash between accounts or freeing up subaccount funds is not final: cash transfers would be negotiated between Appropriations and the Corrections committee and are contingent on broader budget discussions. The committee asked staff to include the conversion language and to note the cash status as negotiable in their recommend packet.