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House approves Department of Corrections appropriation after debate over private prisons, per‑diem increases and third‑party audit
Summary
The House approved the Department of Corrections appropriation after extended questions about per‑diem increases for regional facilities, higher medical contract costs, the size and financing of private prisons and a $690,000 third‑party audit funded from contract clawbacks.
The Mississippi House approved the Department of Corrections appropriation (senate bill 2026) after extended questioning from members about increases to medical and regional per‑diem costs, the role of private prisons and a planned third‑party audit of correctional medical services.
The bill passed on final passage by a recorded vote of 85 yeas and 13 nays. The chairman, introducing the bill, said the total appropriation was $468,953,599, of which $438,203,210 was state support. The chair described a $12,388,493 increase for the prison medical contract, an adjustment in regional per‑diems to $32.71 per inmate per day (a $4,475,060 increase to raise all regions to that level) and vacancy funding adjustments.
Members pressed the…
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