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Committee approves DOC personnel transfer to stand up recidivism program; Act 7 23 reallocates residential programs
Summary
The committee adopted the G1 personnel letter to transfer 51 positions to the Department of Corrections secretary's office to support a recidivism reduction program (estimated cost ~$4M). Act 7 23 reallocations move residential services into ADC, increasing inmate care and custody appropriations by about $43M; the committee also adopted executive recommendations for DOC sections and asked for follow‑up on medical contract performance and inmate complaints.
The Joint Budget Committee approved personnel and appropriation items to implement provisions of Act 7 23 and to begin the state's recidivism reduction efforts.
Kaye Barnhill (OPM) told the committee that G1 transfers 51 positions from the Department of Corrections to the secretary's office to activate a recidivism program: 50 correctional corporals and one corrections deputy director. The estimated cost of the transfer is approximately $4,000,000. The committee moved and adopted the G1 letter by voice vote.
BLR fiscal staff summarized reallocation impacts under Act 7 23. The inmate care and custody line item in the Division of Correction increases by roughly $43,000,000 because residential services programs (secured community residential facilities previously under Division of Community Corrections) were moved into ADC oversight. BLR said these are reallocations rather than net new appropriation; the total division appropriation moves from about $437M in FY26 to $483M in the FY27 recommendation due to transfers.
DOC officials described steps underway to implement recidivism and reentry programming. Secretary Lindsey Wallace and Director Dexter Payne said the department has started pilot programs (a workforce development cohort, peer recovery academy planning, a women's health unit with bonding and reentry supports) and is rolling out Ohio risk assessment tools for offender targeting. Wallace said the act required at least one reentry specialist at each facility and that the department intends to start with roughly 28 facility positions within the 50‑position transfer and to support oversight and quality assurance roles statewide.
Committee members asked about DOC medical contracts and inmate care. DOC reported they have a contract with Wellpath for inmate medical services that is currently being renewed in September; DOC told the committee the contract has performance metrics that generate monetary sanctions when the vendor fails to meet standards and that FY25 sanctions totaled about $690,000. DOC agreed to provide members with counts of complaints filed and the resolution rates and to supply contract performance measures to the committee.
DOC reported roughly 4,915 positions filled and about 1,500 vacancies systemwide; committee members requested a vacancy history and breakdown by position type. The committee adopted executive recommendations for the DOC sections under consideration by voice vote.
The committee then moved to community corrections, post‑prison transfer board and other items and adopted the executive recommendations for those sections as well.
