H.J.R. 19
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature addresses the relocation of the Utah Sate Prison.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . concludes that it is in the best interests of the state to move the state prison from its
14 current location in Draper;
15 . resolves that the prison should be relocated from its current location;
16 . identifies factors that should be given careful, serious, and deliberate consideration
17 in the process of relocating the prison; and
18 . directs that a copy of the resolution be given to various persons.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
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22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23 WHEREAS, the question of whether to move the Utah State Prison from its current
24 location in Draper has received much attention and study, including the work of the Prison
25 Relocation and Development Authority (PRADA) over the past two years and an in-depth
26 study commissioned by PRADA;
27 WHEREAS, the decisions of where and how to relocate prison facilities must be given
28 careful, serious, and deliberate consideration, taking into account many important factors,
29 including:
30 a. whether to locate new prison facilities on land already owned by the state or on land
31 that is currently in public or private ownership but that the state may acquire or lease;
32 b. the efforts of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice to evaluate criminal
33 justice policies to increase public safety, reduce recidivism, and reduce prison population
34 growth should be supported;
35 c. new prison facilities should be conducive to future inmate programming that
36 encourages a reduction in recidivism;
37 d. the location of new prison facilities should help facilitate an adequate level of
38 volunteer and staff support that will allow for a correctional program that is commensurate
39 with the high standards that should be maintained in the state;
40 e. new prison facilities should be located within a reasonable distance of
41 comprehensive medical facilities;
42 f. new prison facilities should be located to be compatible with surrounding land uses
43 for the foreseeable future;
44 g. new prison facilities should be supported by one or more appropriations from the
45 Legislature;
46 h. the preparation of performance specifications for new prison facilities, to facilitate a
47 high quality correctional program, and for the use of the current prison site should be designed
48 to maximize the overall value to taxpayers;
49 i. construction should be phased in over a period of time;
50 j. every reasonable effort should be made to maximize efficiencies and cost savings
51 that result from building and operating newer, more efficient prison facilities;
52 k. access to courts, visiting and public access, expansion capabilities, emergency
53 response factors, and the availability of infrastructure should be given careful and serious
54 consideration; and
55 l. the land on which the current prison is located in Draper should be used, disposed of,
56 or redeveloped through an orderly, competitive, and open process, with the goal of maximizing
57 the economic development potential of the property and achieving the greatest benefit to the
58 state's taxpayers;
59 WHEREAS, the citizens of the state will be best served by a relocation of the current
60 prison facilities, as these and other relevant factors guide the decisions of where and how to
61 move the current prison facilities; and
62 WHEREAS, considering all relevant factors, including the substantial expense that will
63 be required in coming years to maintain, replace, expand, and upgrade existing prison facilities
64 at the Draper location, the cost savings to be realized over time from new, more efficient
65 facilities, the opportunity to tailor new facilities to any improved correctional programs, and
66 the substantial economic and other benefits from changing the use of the current prison
67 property, it is sound public policy and in the best interests of the state to move the prison
68 facilities from their current location in Draper:
69 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the state of Utah, that
70 the Utah State Prison facilities currently located in Draper should be relocated from that site to
71 one or more other suitable locations in the state.
72 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the relocation of prison facilities should be guided
73 by the principles stated in paragraphs a through l of this resolution.
74 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Utah
75 Department of Corrections, the Prison Relocation and Development Authority, and the
76 members of Utah's congressional delegation.
Legislative Review Note
as of 2-13-14 4:02 PM