Prison Acquisition Revolving Fund; making appropriations. Emergency.
Summary
SB1160 appropriates a total of $312 million to the Prison Acquisition Revolving Fund, with $238,077,462 coming from the Revenue Stabilization Fund and $73,922,538 from the General Revenue Fund for fiscal year 2023. The bill is tied to the Prison Acquisition Revolving Fund created in prior legislation and is intended to provide money for expenditures authorized by law related to that fund.
The measure is an emergency bill, meaning it takes effect immediately upon passage and approval. Its purpose is to support prison acquisition-related spending, likely connected to the state’s correctional system needs, including facility acquisition or related capital costs. The bill does not itself create new criminal justice policy or change sentencing law; instead, it directs state funds into an existing revolving fund for a specific public-purpose use.
Impact
SB1160 changes state finances by transferring large appropriations into the Prison Acquisition Revolving Fund, drawing from both the Revenue Stabilization Fund and the General Revenue Fund. It affects the state treasury and the administration of the revolving fund created by earlier legislation, but it does not amend substantive criminal statutes. The practical impact falls on state correctional infrastructure planning, prison acquisition efforts, and agencies authorized to spend from that fund.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have broad legislative support, passing both chambers by comfortable margins. It cleared the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committee 17-9, passed Senate third reading 40-6, and then passed the House 76-16 after being approved there as amended by committee substitute. The vote pattern suggests general agreement on the need for the appropriation, though not unanimous support.
Contention
The main point of contention is the size and source of the appropriation, particularly the use of the Revenue Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund for prison acquisition purposes. Opponents likely questioned the fiscal priority of dedicating hundreds of millions of dollars to prison-related spending, while supporters viewed it as necessary for public safety and correctional capacity. The committee and floor votes indicate some resistance, but not enough to block the measure.