75th Legislative Session -- 2000

Committee: House Appropriations

                                            P - Present
                                            E - Excused
                                            A - Absent

Roll Call
P      Cerny
P      Burg
P      Sutton (Daniel)
P      Derby
P      Clark
P      Pummel
P      Klaudt
P      Wudel
P      Putnam, Vice-Chair
P      Richter, Chair

(Meeting jointly with the Senate Appropriations Committee)

OTHERS PRESENT: See Original Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Chair Frederick

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Annie Mertz, LRC, provided budget information for the committee (Document #1)

Mr. Jeff Bloomberg, Secretary, Department of Corrections, introduced members of his staff and gave an overview of the structure of the department, including a listing of facility/office locations.

In his budget presentation to the committee (Document #2), Mr. Bloomberg explained that 59% of the additional $3,668.611 in general funds would be used for a $1.50 per hour pay increase for correctional officers and sergeants. These are the areas that have the highest turnover rate. (Document #3).

Mr. Doug Weber, State penitentiary warden, reported to the committee that since they have started charging inmates a $2.00 co-pay if they went on sick call, and it was not deemed medically necessary. Tthere has been a 50% reduction in medical sick calls.

Mr. Bloomberg informed the group that the $231,151 increase in group/residential/detention costs was to allow for an additional 10 children with mental health problems to be placed in alternative care.

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The recent problems at Plankinton has prompted the request for 7 FTEs for the juvenile prison.
Mr. Bloomberg noted that these FTEs have already been added.

The meeting recessed at 9:35 a.m. and reconvened at 9:45 a.m.

Administration - Mr. Bloomberg informed the committee of the $1,240,125 reduction of federal funds authority in the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant citing they did not need the funding authority for 2 years and it was reduced to 1 year.

Committee discussion followed on inmate classification levels and the process for determining that classification. Another area of discussion was on the transferring of inmates between states. Representative Klaudt asked the Corrections staff to look into the cost of placing juveniles in other facilities outside of South Dakota.

Women's Prison - largest increase is in salaries associated with the proposed increase of $1.50 for correctional officers and sergeants.

A discussion followed on the Children in Need of Supervision (CHINS) and the method of classification. It was explained that some of the components include assessing education, drug counseling and psychological evaluation. There is also a review for history of violence. Most of the CHINS are in the system due to a plea bargin from a more serious offense.

Questions from the committee will be reserved until the committee convenes after the legislative session.

MOTION:      ADJOURN

Moved by:      Senator Hainje
Second by:      Senator Drake
Action:      Prevailed by voice vote.

Jeanette Black

Committee Secretary