Corrections supplemental: JBC cites medical services, contracts and jail payments as main drivers

At the caucus briefing Rep. Rick Taggart reviewed the Department of Corrections supplemental charts (identified in the book with a bill reference). He said corrections is one of the largest departments by full-time equivalent staff (almost 6,400 FTEs in his presentation) and outlined several large supplemental requests.

Taggart listed a $12.5 million request for external medical services and pharmaceuticals driven in part by an aging corrections population; $10 million to fund medical and mental-health contracts where the department cannot hire sufficient clinical staff; and $3.3 million to compensate local jails that are temporarily housing individuals because state prisons lack capacity. He also identified requests tied to private institutional beds (noting a $2.8 million request tied to 153 beds) and prison-caseload adjustments approaching 788 beds, saying the state is nearing capacity and further requests may require construction instead of operating adjustments.

Taggart said some of the correction increases are non-construction adjustments (e.g., minor facility changes) but warned that future capacity needs could force capital planning. He also pointed to common-policy impacts such as increases in state employee health, life and dental costs.