JFAC approves multiple DOC supplementals; mixed committee outcomes on safety, transport and camera proposals

The Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 28 considered and voted on a sequence of supplementals and FY2026 enhancement requests from the Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC), approving several measures intended to address security gaps revealed by an incident in March 2024 and to meet rising population and medical costs across the corrections system.

Noah Peterson, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said the department’s advanced surveillance and transport requests were prompted by a March 2024 shooting and escape attempt. “This request ... comes as a result of the shooting and escape attempt, that came in March of 2024,” Peterson told the committee, describing a package of technologies and staffing changes intended to close identified vulnerabilities.

Key FY2025 supplementals and committee outcomes included: - Advanced surveillance technology (digital mail scanning, drone detection, phone transcription/analysis): one‑time $795,000 (general fund). Motion by Representative Handy. Passed both committees; reported to floor with a due‑pass recommendation (committee roll calls resulted in a combined committee tally reported as 17 ayes, 3 nays).

- Transport safety expansion (expand transport bureau to emergency transports, 12 personnel, 7 vehicles): one‑time $1,148,000 (general fund). Motion by Senator Wintrow. Passed both committees; reported to floor with a due‑pass recommendation (combined tally 15 ayes, 5 nays).

- Body‑worn camera pilot (year‑one costs; federal grant with state match required in later years): supplemental total $1,051,000 (mix of federal and general fund). Motion by Representative Handy. Passed the House Appropriations Committee but failed to achieve a majority in the Senate Finance Committee; the committee record shows the motion achieved a majority in the House but not in the Senate and will proceed to the Senate for further consideration.

- County and out‑of‑state placement supplemental (to cover higher than budgeted housing and placement costs): one‑time $5,939,400 (general fund). Motion by Senator Woodward. Passed both committees; due‑pass recommendation (combined tally 15 ayes, 5 nays).

- Medical services supplemental (to align medical services appropriations with updated population projections): one‑time $5,957,200 (general fund). Motion by Representative Manwaring. Passed both committees on a corrected roll call and will be sent to the floor (final combined tally recorded as 16 ayes, 3 nays, 1 absent/excused after a correction to a roll‑call typo).

The committee also considered FY2026 adjustments and enhancement requests across IDOC divisions. Several FY2026 items passed committee review and were recommended to the floor while others achieved a majority only in one chamber’s appropriations caucus and will go forward to the Senate or require additional action. Notable FY2026 items included: - State Prisons Division: ongoing costs to maintain advanced surveillance technologies and transport support, and a multi‑site IT and replacement items package (committee motion carried with a combined favorable tally reported as 13 ayes, 6 nays, 1 absent; due pass recommended).

- County and Out‑of‑State Placement: FY2026 population‑driven adjustment of $4,527,900 (general fund) approved and forwarded with a due‑pass recommendation.

- Medical Services: FY2026 population adjustment of $2,727,900 (general fund) approved and forwarded to the floor.

Committee members frequently asked for more detail about facility timelines and population projections, and several votes reflected differing views on whether to expand centralized state‑run capabilities or to rely on county or contracted placement and transport. The committee’s roll calls and recorded tallies will accompany the matters as they move to the legislative floor for final action.