Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Corrections Oversight topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee rejects moratorium on new private‑prison contracts after sponsor cites comptroller concerns
Summary
Representative Johnson's HB 19‑38, which would bar new or renewed state or local contracts with private prison operators, failed on a recorded vote (2‑6) after sponsors cited comptroller audits and alleged failures by CoreCivic.
Representative Johnson explained HB 19‑38 would prohibit state and local governments from entering into new contracts or renewing existing contracts to provide correctional services to inmates under state custody, effectively instituting a moratorium on private prisons; existing contracts would be protected. Johnson cited a comptroller audit and alleged that private operators—named in testimony as CoreCivic—had incurred penalties totaling $44,780,000 over a three‑year span and had "a 146 staffing turnover rate," asserting private facilities performed worse on measures such as investigations, medication administration and post‑secondary programming.
Committee members questioned whether private facilities could be folded into the bill’s oversight and whether the bill would change who employs and supervises the 57 investigators Johnson described. After debate and a recorded vote the clerk announced 2 ayes and 6 nos and the bill failed in committee.
