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House approves standards for private prisons, adds local hearing and limits on out‑of‑state inmates
Summary
House Bill 131, establishing contractor qualifications, monitoring and operational standards for private correctional facilities, passed overwhelmingly after floor amendments requiring local public hearings and restricting out‑of‑state inmate transfers to interstate‑compact procedures.
The Utah House approved House Bill 131 on Feb. 17, creating statutory requirements for private prison contracts including contractor qualifications, correctional‑officer‑to‑inmate ratios, inmate security and training standards, written emergency response plans and state monitoring authority.
Representative King (sponsor) said the bill was not intended to oppose privatization but to provide protections for local communities and ensure contractors could meet correctional and financial obligations. Floor amendments were adopted that require the Department to hold a local public hearing before entering a contract and to give consideration to input from those hearings when awarding contracts. Another amendment limited the admission of out‑of‑state prisoners to processes consistent with interstate compacts of which Utah is a party.
Proponents said the statute clarifies responsibilities, protects local governments from liability, and requires private facilities to meet Utah correctional standards. Supporters also argued the rules would reassure communities where facilities might be sited.
The bill passed by a wide margin (72 yes, 0 no on the recorded vote) and will be referred to the Senate for further action.
