Bill Aims to Increase Funding to Counties for Housing State Prisoners

Legislation Addresses Payment Shortfalls for Costs of Probation and Parole Holds

Madison – February 5, 2016 – (RealEstateRama) — Rep. David Steffen (R-Howard) was joined by members of local law enforcement in supporting a bill that aims to make counties whole for costs incurred while housing state prisoners in county jails. Currently, state prisoners who have violated conditions of their probation, parole, or extended supervision can be housed in county jails while they await revocation proceedings. These are commonly known as probation and parole holds.

State statute requires that the state reimburse counties for costs of probation and parole holds at a rate of $40/day. However, statute also allows these reimbursements to be prorated if sufficient funding is not available. Due to the proration option, counties have not been reimbursed at the statutory rate since 2004.

“In 2014 Brown County alone was short-changed over $90,000 for costs of housing state prisoners. The financial strain caused by this underfunded mandate is felt by every county throughout the state. My bill adds some common-sense flexibilities in how these reimbursements can be funded in order to ensure that every effort is being made to meet the $40/day rate,” said Rep. Steffen.

Rep. Steffen worked closely with the Department of Corrections in crafting this legislation, which allows the Department to utilize any remaining funds collected through supervision fees to reimburse counties for probation and parole holds. The Department indicated that had this flexibility been available in 2015, counties would have been reimbursed at $40/day.

The bill was passed out of the Assembly Committee on Urban and Local Affairs and is now awaiting a vote by the full Assembly.

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CONTACT: Rep. David Steffen
February 3, 2016 (608) 266-5840