STATE PRISONERS HOUSED IN COUNTY JAILS – Amends existing law to revise a provision regarding per diem costs of state prisoners housed in county jails.
Summary
House Bill 556 amends Idaho Code section 20-237A governing payments the state makes to counties that house state prisoners in county jails. The bill raises the minimum per diem rate for state-sentenced prisoners from $55 to $80 per day for the first seven days of custody, while leaving the $75 per day rate in place for each day after the first week. It also retains existing provisions requiring the Department of Correction to pay ordinary and necessary medical and dental expenses for these prisoners, and it preserves the current framework for county billing, payment timing, and periodic legislative review of jail housing costs.
The bill applies to prisoners convicted, sentenced, and committed to the custody of the state board of correction, including certain probationers and parolees housed in county jails under existing law. It does not change the underlying responsibility of the state to reimburse counties, but it increases the state’s short-term cost obligation for jail housing. The act is declared an emergency and takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
This legislation directly amends section 20-237A, Idaho Code, by increasing the statutory minimum daily reimbursement rate the state must pay counties for housing state prisoners in county jails. The change affects the Department of Correction’s budgeting and payment obligations, county jail revenue, and the annual legislative appropriation needed to fund these reimbursements. It leaves intact related provisions on medical and dental costs, billing procedures, and liability allocation between the state and counties.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have had broad support in both chambers, passing the House 56-10 and the Senate 30-3. The strong margins suggest general agreement that county jails should receive higher compensation for housing state prisoners, likely reflecting cost pressures on counties and the need to keep reimbursement rates aligned with current expenses. No committee transcript was provided, so the available record shows support through the voting history rather than detailed floor debate.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely fiscal: the bill increases the state’s per diem obligation, which can affect correctional appropriations and the state budget. Counties are the primary beneficiaries, as the higher first-week rate increases reimbursement for jail housing costs, while the Department of Correction and the legislature must fund the added expense. The relatively small number of dissenting votes in both chambers suggests opposition was limited and may have centered on the cost increase rather than the policy of reimbursing counties itself.