State Commission of Correction

The Enacted Budget makes the following changes to the Executive Budget’s State Operations appropriations (analysis as of March 31, 2009):

•  Makes no changes to state operations appropriations.

• Amends article VII legislation modifying the responsibilities of the Commission of Correction, leaving intact the elimination, limit, or transfer of several of SCOC’s functions to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).  Maintains the authority of SCOC to visit and inspect correctional facilities only in circumstances involving health, safety or alleged violations of established standards of the commission, and consistent with a schedule determined by the chairman of the commission, taking into consideration available resources, workload and staffing.

According to the Senate White Book, (analysis as of December 31, 2008):

• The SFY 2009-10 Executive Budget proposes a decrease of $94,000 related to various cost containing measures including controlling vacancies and non personal services reductions.  This decrease is offset by an increase of $29,000 related to personal service costs for salary adjustments and $78,000 in nonpersonal service increases related to inflationary costs.

The Executive Budget recommends (analysis as of December 29, 2009):

A SFY 2009-10 workforce of 34.  This maintains the level of FTEs from the adjusted FTE level for FY 2008-09.  The following chart identifies adjustments in the current fiscal year’s FTEs along with the recommended differences in FY 2009-10 FTEs by program (if the FTE’s are the same the program is not listed):

• The difference between the estimated FTEs for SFY 2008-09 and the adjusted level of 2008-09 FTEs is -1.  This should be addressed at statewide labor management. 

• The total appropriation for Personal Service is $2.4 million, an $180,000 or 7.9% increase over SFY 2008-09.  However, the Executive Budget Agency Presentation for the State Commission of Correction (COC) shows a net decrease of $11,000 in the personal service appropriation from the adjusted SFY 2008-09 agency appropriation.  This discrepancy is related to the Special Pay bill that included $191,000 in negotiated union raises, which was applied to the SFY 2008-09 appropriation.

• An All Funds increase of $204,000, (+7.3%) from the enacted All Funds SFY 2008-09 appropriation.  This increase is due to an increase in the Improvement Facilities program, which included an $180,000 increase in personal service and a $24,000 increase for travel (non-personal service).  However, the Executive Budget Agency Presentation for the Commission shows a net increase of $13,000 from the adjusted SFY 2008-09 All Funds appropriation.  This reflects $191,000 in adjustments due to the Special Pay Bill containing negotiated union raises. 

• The Executive Budget shows that COC does not have any consulting service contracts.

• Article VII language to modify the responsibilities of the State Commission of Correction (SCOC).  This proposal will limit the SCOC’s mandates in order for the Agency to perform more effectively its core responsibilities.  More specifically, this bill will:
  • provide that routine SCOC oversight of correctional facilities will not be necessary if either a Department of Correctional Services or a local correctional facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association;

• eliminate, limit, or transfer several of SCOC’s functions to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), including: (1) the Municipal Police Training Council and DCJS will assume responsibility for establishing and overseeing a basic correctional training program for personnel employed by correctional facilities. (2) SCOC’s data analysis obligation will be eliminated, because for many years it has been handled by DCJS. (3) SCOC will now only provide the rules and regulations establishing the minimum standards for the review of the construction or improvement of correctional facilities and will only approve or reject plans for the construction or improvement of correctional facilities that directly affect the health, safety, and security of staff and inmates. The bill also provides options to administrators of local jails to reduce operating costs.