H.J.R. 18

1

JOINT RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
2 COUNTIES EXPANSION OF CORRECTIONAL
3 FACILITIES
4 2005 GENERAL SESSION
5 STATE OF UTAH
6 Sponsor: David L. Hogue
7
8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This joint resolution of the Legislature supports jail expansion in Beaver, Millard, and
11 Sanpete Counties through a contract with the Utah Department of Corrections.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . supports Beaver, Millard, and Sanpete Counties' expansion of their correctional
15 facilities by means of a contract between the counties and the Utah Department of
16 Corrections.
17 Special Clauses:
18 None
19
20 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
21 WHEREAS, counties contract with the Department of Corrections to provide prison
22 bed space for state prisoners;
23 WHEREAS, this contracting arrangement has proved beneficial to both the state and
24 the counties and saved the taxpayers from the burden of building new state correctional
25 facilities while at the same time assisting counties to meet their own correctional space needs;
26 WHEREAS, in accordance with Utah Code Annotated, Subsection 64-13c-401(1), "the
27 department [of Corrections] may enter into a contract with a county government to house

28 inmates only if the Legislature has previously passed a joint resolution" containing the
29 approximate number of beds contracted, the county's average daily rate the department will pay
30 the county per inmate, and the approximate amount of the county's long-term debt and the
31 length of that debt for the facility where the inmates are to be housed;
32 WHEREAS, the approximate number of beds to be contracted is 100 in Millard
33 County, 200 in Beaver County, and 50 beds in Sanpete County, for a total of 350 beds;
34 WHEREAS, the county's average daily rate the department will pay the county per
35 inmate, as determined under Title 64, Chapter 13c, Part 3, Reimbursement of Inmate Costs, is
36 currently $42.32 per day;
37 WHEREAS, Sanpete County, which is planning a new facility, estimates the cost at $10
38 million and plans to finance the full amount with 15-year bonds;
39 WHEREAS, Beaver County, which is planning an add-on to an existing facility,
40 estimates the approximate construction costs at $7.5 million and plans to finance the full
41 amount with 20-year bonds;
42 WHEREAS, Millard County, which is planning an addition to an existing facility,
43 estimates construction costs at about $2.5 million and plans to finance the full amount with
44 15-year bonds;
45 WHEREAS, this planning cannot begin until authorization to build is received, and the
46 Department of Corrections will report this information to the Legislature as soon as it is
47 determined; and
48 WHEREAS, contracting with the Utah Department of Corrections for additional prison
49 bed space would greatly assist the state and Beaver, Millard, and Sanpete Counties' efforts to
50 have sufficient capacity to house their prison populations:
51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
52 supports jail expansion as beneficial to both the state and Beaver, Millard, and Sanpete
53 Counties.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Beaver,
55 Millard, and Sanpete County Commissions and to the Utah Department of Corrections.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-15-05 5:39 PM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel