Committee recommits bill to appropriations to create community corrections trust funds

Sen. Clark introduced Senate Bill 92 to allow counties that operate community corrections programs to establish a county Community Corrections Trust Fund, a nonreverting account with prescribed uses and oversight. Clark said the bill responds to prior efforts to provide counties with tools to sustain programs that protect public safety and are less costly than incarceration.

Tony Cofinelli, director of Johnson County Community Corrections, told the committee community supervision can be far less expensive than incarceration and that SB92 would provide an additional local revenue tool. He cited per-day costs stated in testimony: roughly $79 per day to house a prisoner in state prison, about $74 per day in county jail, and about $17 per day for community supervision options such as work release and home detention. Cofinelli said the fund could cover program needs, electronic monitoring, staff training and maintenance, and reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Scott Carr of Catalyx Public Affairs Group, speaking for the Indiana Association of Community Corrections Act Counties, and representatives of the Association of Indiana Counties supported the bill and highlighted built-in safeguards: annual reports to the county fiscal body, oversight by the county auditor and Community Corrections Advisory Board, and limits on permissible uses.

Sen. Clark closed by noting specific statutory lines that prescribe allowable expenditures and by pointing out the fund would be held by the constitutionally elected county auditor, which he said provides an additional safeguard. The committee moved to advance the bill with a recommit to appropriations; the clerk recorded the motion as passing (transcript reports "The bill passes 90"). The bill will proceed to appropriations for further consideration.