Commission approves $500,000 transfer from Jetson project to Concordia to allow contractor award

The 2025 Legislature LA Criminal Justice Facilities Commission on Oct. 28 heard status updates on six projects funded by the criminal-justice facilities program and approved a one-time $500,000 transfer from the New Jetson Center for Youth project to the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office Juvenile Detention Center to allow Concordia to execute a construction contract.

The move came after Concordia project representatives said the low bid exceeded the $3 million appropriation; commission staff recommended temporarily shifting funds from the Jetson project (a larger state-funded project) and then seeking to backfill Jetson in the next legislative session under priority 5. Commissioner members adopted the transfer by voice without recorded roll-call tallies and noted a department proxy counted as the sixth member for quorum.

Why it matters: The transfer will let Concordia proceed with a bid that its contractor has agreed to hold while funding approval is secured. Commission staff said delaying could risk losing the bidder and likely lead to higher prices on rebid. Staff also emphasized that the program is early in delivery and most spending is expected to occur when construction begins in 2026–2027.

Project updates and budgets - New Jetson Center for Youth: Total project budget $68,715,440; $16,000,000 provided from the program. The project is in design; $1,114,262.45 has been expended to date. Contracts encumbered include a designer and a construction manager-at-risk (CMAR).

- Central Louisiana Juvenile Detention Center: Total budget $38,978,880; $37,978,880 provided through the program. Project in design; FP&C (Facility Planning & Control) has concurred in contracts totaling $2,195,812.78 and has reimbursed $0 to date. Grace Design Studios represents the project; designers are conducting soil borings and expect construction documents completed by March, with potential contractor selection in April.

- River Parishes Regional Juvenile Detention Center (Lafourche): Total budget $36,615,100; fully funded through the program. The project is in early administration and design; FP&C reported no concurred contracts or reimbursements to date. Lafourche Parish leaders said they are seeking an owner’s representative and pursuing a CMAR model; they aim for design completion by April with an eye toward expedited construction.

- Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office Juvenile Detention Center: Total budget $3,000,000 from the program. FP&C has concurred contracts totaling $159,327 and reimbursed $103,562.55 to date. Concordia completed design, publicly advertised for bids and received contractor interest; the low bid exceeded available funds. Concordia representatives said they have ordered furniture and equipment and planned groundbreaking for Nov. 17, with a 10-month construction timeline.

- Tangipahoa Parish work-release dormitory and infrastructure upgrades: Transcript-listed budgets included $1,000,312 and $1,312,700 (both figures were mentioned). Tangipahoa reported they have engaged an architect, completed a site survey and intend construction to begin in 2026; the new facility is described as open-air with capacity planned for roughly 180 work-release residents and potential expansion.

Action taken - Motion: "Proceed with the transfer of the funds from Jetson to Concordia." Motion moved by Representative Baccala (as recorded in the meeting) and seconded by Christopher Walters. Outcome: approved by adoption (no objection noted); a department of public safety proxy served as the sixth member for quorum. Commission staff said intent is to replenish Jetson in the next legislative session (priority 5) so the transfer will be temporary.

Discussion highlights and concerns Commission members pressed about pod sizes and staffing models in the new youth facilities. Representative Muscarello asked whether larger pods (16 beds) had been considered to reduce overnight staffing costs; project representatives and agency staff said larger pods had been discussed but rejected for security and behavioral-management reasons or because redesign would delay projects already well into design. Lafourche officials said they were open to a 16-person pod configuration for nighttime lockdowns if it proved safe and cost-effective.

FP&C staff and project representatives emphasized that most program expenditures will occur when construction starts in 2026–2027 and that current spending levels are modest because projects remain in design and procurement phases.

Ending The commission adjourned after the vote. Staff said future reporting to the commission and to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget (JLCB) will be quarterly written updates unless the commission requests another in-person meeting. Several project representatives asked members to act quickly so contractors can hold bid prices and projects can proceed on the stated timetables.