Corrections subcommittee approves dozen budget decision packages, asks report on inmate tablet monitoring

A montana legislative Section D subcommittee concluded executive action on the Department of Corrections budget, approving a series of decision packages that together adjust staffing, equipment and contracted rates and asking for a report on supervision of inmate tablets for the interim.

The action matters because the committee’s votes set restricted biennial funding levels and intent language that will go into House Bill 2 and companion language, and because some provisions — notably community corrections and secure-facility rate increases — affect county detention center payments and out-of-state placements.

The subcommittee approved a mix of personnel and operating requests across multiple programs. Staff briefed members on an updated budget tracker showing committee-level changes; department staff and budget office staff answered questions on several packages.

Representative Hawk pressed for follow-up on decision package DP 202, which funds security equipment and software for public-safety use of inmate tablets. Hawk said constituents were concerned about insufficient supervision around the tablets and asked for “some kind of report to the interim committee about…who’s monitoring the tablets, how are these automatic messages getting through, just kind of a breakdown and structure around how these tablets are being monitored.” Committee staff said that reporting requirements could be placed into a companion bill or House Bill 2 as intent language.

Department and budget staff explained several items while the committee moved through the package list. Mr. Hopkins, a subcommittee staffer, described the tracker and the committee’s plan to convert temporary positions approved in 2023 to permanent status and to reflect today’s changes in the final budget sheets.

Votes at a glance

- DP 175 / DP 275 / DP 375 / DP 475 — Convert previously approved modified positions to permanent: Motion to “do pass as stated in the DPs” carried by voice vote. (Amounts: not specified in transcript; approved.)

- DP 201 (recruitment & retention / employee training) — Motion moved to provide $1,200,000 biennium (half of executive request); motion carried by voice vote. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount stated $1,200,000 biennium.)

- DP 202 (public safety security equipment and licenses) — Motion to “do pass” for $2,450,000 biennium, restricted; motion carried by voice vote after discussion of ongoing versus one-time licensing costs. Department estimated about $800,000 ongoing; first‑year costs larger because of one‑time equipment purchases. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount $2,450,000 biennium; restricted.)

- DP 203 (performance advancement wage scale) — Motion to do pass for $800,000 biennium; carried by voice vote. (Moved by Representative Nicastro.)

- DP 204 (MCE rate changes impact to MSP) — Motion to do pass for $873,750 biennium (75% of original ask); carried by voice vote. (Moved by Representative Nicastro.)

- DP 205 (assistance for youth population / out‑of‑state beds & case management) — Motion to do pass for amount stated in the DP (transcript did not repeat the dollar figure); carried by voice. Committee discussion noted the request includes additional out‑of‑state beds (about 10) and funding for case management for youth exiting the system. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount: not specified in transcript.)

- DP 216 (K‑9 program; modified from 4 PB to 1 PB assigned to Montana State Prison) — Motion to adopt DP 216 for $231,650 biennium (new PB restricted to Montana State Prison). Committee added intent language assigning the position to Montana State Prison. Vote: roll-call style reporting indicated a plurality in favor; transcript recorded counts verbally (committee reported “5 for I and 2 for nay” in the vote sequence) and named a nay from Senator Morgeau. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount $231,650 biennium; outcome: approved with recorded dissent.)

- DP 207 (vehicle replacement) — Motion to set amount to $668,000 biennium (restricted, half of request); some members opposed reductions and preferred full funding. Motion carried by voice vote. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount $668,000 biennium.)

- DP 208 (secure facility equipment) — Motion to do pass for $922,000 biennium, restricted; carried by voice. (Moved by Representative Nicastro.)

- DP 209 (secure facility rate increases for contracted secure facilities) — Motion to do pass for $2,781,020 biennium, restricted; carried after discussion that the increase applies to in‑state contracted secure facilities and also affects out‑of‑state bed rates included in the base. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount $2,781,020 biennium.)

- DP 219 (prevailing wage increase at Crossroads, a contracted facility) — Motion carried; committee inserted intent language that the increase be used for wage increases and not to raise the daily contractual rate charged to counties. Motion to adopt DP 219 for $1,585,455 biennium, restricted, carried by voice. (Moved by Representative Nicastro; amount $1,585,455 biennium.)

- DP 210 / DP 211 (leased vehicle funding existing and new) — DP 210 (existing leased vehicles) moved for $164,650 biennium and carried; DP 211 (new leased vehicles, cut to half) was subject to a roll call and the committee recorded mixed votes and proxies; the result recorded in the transcript was a split outcome and then a brief recess was called for clarification. (DP 210 moved by Representative Nicastro; DP 211 moved by Representative Nicastro; amounts $164,650 and $203,676 respectively; DP 210 passed; DP 211 vote recorded as divided.)

- DP 313 (modified from DP 303) — Automatic dispensing machine for pharmacy operations (machine plus ongoing costs) without the additional pharmacy technician: motion to adopt a new DP 313 for $849,564 biennium (no position); carried by voice. Department clarified the machine is overseen by a contract pharmacist; the extra pharmacy technician originally requested was to address volume not machine operation. (Moved by Vice Chair Vance; amount $849,564 biennium.)

- DP 314 (modified from DP 304) — Reduction to two PBs for the modified request: motion adopted; biennial total recorded in the hearing was $469,300 for the reduced configuration; carried by voice. (Moved by committee staff on behalf of the subcommittee.)

- DP 307 (parenting program) — Motion to make the parenting program permanent at $240,000 biennium, restricted. Department explained the 12‑week program (about 12 participants per cohort, 3–4 cohorts yearly) was previously funded with a federal grant that is ending; the request funds staff, family weekend expenses and program operations. Motion carried by voice. (Moved by Vice Chair Vance; amount $240,000 biennium; restricted.)

- DP 380 (community corrections facility rate adjustments) — Motion to adopt in the amount of $9,349,896 biennium (this continues one‑time initiatives and adds a 2% increase for treatment and assessment center rates); carried by voice. Committee and department said this continues 51 in‑state beds and funding for programs approved OTO last session. (Moved by Vice Chair Vance; amount $9,349,896 biennium.)

- DP 381 (2% 1‑time rate adjustment for pre‑release centers) — Motion to adopt $1,846,600 one‑time to provide a 2% temporary increase for pre‑release centers while contract negotiations proceed; carried by voice. (Moved by Vice Chair Vance; amount $1,846,600 one‑time.)

- DP 385 (equalized nurse pay) — Motion to adopt $1,376,571 biennium to equalize nurse pay pending final Section B decisions; committee approved the line with allowance for amendment if Section B numbers change. (Moved by Vice Chair Vance; amount $1,376,571 biennium.)

- House Bill 2 language motions — The subcommittee approved language making certain program authorities biennial (for example, director’s office/central services program 1) and agreed staff will draft companion bill language and other intent language for HB2 to carry reporting requirements discussed in committee. (Outcome: approved as recorded.)

- Proprietary rates — The committee approved internal‑service/proprietary rate ceilings presented by staff for institutional industries (laundry cost per pound), vocational education fund (no change), and the MCE food factory (rate increases for 2026–27). Committee members linked the MCE food factory rate change to DP 204. (Outcome: approved as presented.)

What committee members pressed and what’s next

- Reporting on inmate tablet supervision: Representative Hawk asked for interim reporting language about monitoring, automated messages and staffing related to inmate tablets; committee staff and the chair said they would work to add reporting requirements to companion language or HB2 intent language.

- K‑9 program scope and placement: Members debated whether to fund multiple K‑9 positions at once or start with a single PB at Montana State Prison. The committee adopted one PB and included intent assigning it to Montana State Prison; one senator recorded a no vote saying more K‑9 positions were needed.

- Parenting program outcomes: Several members asked for measurable outcome tracking for the parenting program to show benefits for children, families and participants; staff said development of performance measures will be an interim priority.

- Budget tracker and follow up: Committee staff said the detailed budget tracker will be updated and distributed reflecting today’s votes and that HB2 narrative text will be drafted in the coming week or two.

Quotes

Representative Hawk: “Rather than restrict their funding… I’m hoping that we can get some kind of report to the interim committee about…who’s monitoring the tablets, how are these automatic messages getting through, just kind of a breakdown and structure around how these tablets are being monitored.”

Mr. Hopkins (subcommittee staff): On DP 202, “we’re estimating $800,000 would be ongoing costs… $1,650,000 in the first year — a lot of that would be the one‑time equipment purchases.”

Scott Eichner, Department of Corrections rehabilitation program chief, on a pre‑release efficiency: “This would allow them to go two months earlier. So at four months, if they were doing everything, and everybody felt good about them releasing to the community early, they would still be under the supervision of the pre‑release center.”

Ending

The subcommittee closed executive action for the Department of Corrections and several other agencies in Section D, and staff said final budget sheets reflecting the committee’s actions would be emailed to members this afternoon. Committee leaders said they will draft companion and HB2 language reflecting reporting requests and restricted authorities as agreed.