H.C.R. 8

             1     

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REGARDING MOVING THE

             2     
STATE PRISON

             3     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Brad R. Wilson

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor addresses the relocation
             11      of the Utah Sate Prison.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This resolution:
             14          .    concludes that it is in the best interests of the state to move the state prison from its
             15      current location in Draper;
             16          .    resolves that the prison should be relocated from its current location;
             17          .    identifies factors that should be given careful, serious, and deliberate consideration
             18      in the process of relocating the prison; and
             19          .    directs that a copy of the resolution be given to various persons.
             20      Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22     
             23      Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
             24          WHEREAS, the question of whether to move the Utah State Prison from its current
             25      location in Draper has received much attention and study, including the work of the Prison
             26      Relocation and Development Authority (PRADA) over the past two years and an in-depth
             27      study commissioned by PRADA;


             28          WHEREAS, the decisions of where and how to relocate prison facilities must be given
             29      careful, serious, and deliberate consideration, taking into account many important factors,
             30      including:
             31          a. whether to locate new prison facilities on land already owned by the state or on land
             32      that is currently in public or private ownership but that the state may acquire or lease;
             33          b. the efforts of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to evaluate criminal
             34      justice policies to increase public safety, reduce recidivism, and reduce prison population
             35      growth should be supported;
             36          c. new prison facilities should be conducive to future inmate programming that
             37      encourages a reduction in recidivism;
             38          d. the location of new prison facilities should help facilitate an adequate level of
             39      volunteer and staff support that will allow for a correctional program that is commensurate
             40      with the high standards that should be maintained in the state;
             41          e. new prison facilities should be located within a reasonable distance of
             42      comprehensive medical facilities;
             43          f. new prison facilities should be located to be compatible with surrounding land uses
             44      for the foreseeable future;
             45          g. new prison facilities should be supported by one or more appropriations from the
             46      Legislature;
             47          h. the preparation of performance specifications for new prison facilities, to facilitate a
             48      high quality correctional program, and for the use of the current prison site should be designed
             49      to maximize the overall value to taxpayers;
             50          i. construction should be phased in over a period of time;
             51          j. every reasonable effort should be made to maximize efficiencies and cost savings
             52      that result from building and operating newer, more efficient prison facilities;
             53          k. access to courts, visiting and public access, expansion capabilities, emergency
             54      response factors, and the availability of infrastructure should be given careful and serious
             55      consideration; and
             56          l. the land on which the current prison is located in Draper should be used, disposed of,
             57      or redeveloped through an orderly, competitive, and open process, with the goal of maximizing
             58      the economic development potential of the property and achieving the greatest benefit to the


             59      state's taxpayers;
             60          WHEREAS, the citizens of the state will be best served by a relocation of the current
             61      prison facilities, as these and other relevant factors guide the decisions of where and how to
             62      move the current prison facilities; and
             63          WHEREAS, considering all relevant factors, including the substantial expense that will
             64      be required in coming years to maintain, replace, expand, and upgrade existing prison facilities
             65      at the Draper location, the cost savings to be realized over time from new, more efficient
             66      facilities, the opportunity to tailor new facilities to any improved correctional programs, and
             67      the substantial economic and other benefits from changing the use of the current prison
             68      property, it is sound public policy and in the best interests of the state to move the prison
             69      facilities from their current location in Draper:
             70          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
             71      Governor concurring therein, that the Utah State Prison facilities currently located in Draper
             72      should be relocated from that site to one or more other suitable locations in the state.
             73          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the relocation of prison facilities should be guided
             74      by the principles stated in paragraphs a through l of this resolution.
             75          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
             76      Department of Corrections, the Prison Relocation and Development Authority, and the
             77      members of Utah's congressional delegation.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-13-14 4:03 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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