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State moves forward with next step in prison lease plan

The Alabama Department of Corrections on Friday opened submitted proposals for the construction of three new prisons in the state, moving Gov. Kay Ivey’s plan for the state to lease three new prisons, to be built by private companies, one step further.  The opening of the proposals took place in a conference call, only the … Continued
May 15, 2020

Prisons ask for $42 million budget increase in 2021

Thursday the House and Senate General Fund budget committees were in Montgomery for a rare joint session as all of the State General Fund (SGF) department heads made their 2021 budget requests. Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeffrey S. Dunn requested $563 million in FY2021 – a $42 million increase from the 2020 budget. Dunn … Continued
January 24, 2020

Prisons, pay raises and pre-K: Gov. Kay Ivey’s ambitious agenda

From prison construction to pay raises for teachers and state employees, Gov. Kay Ivey pitched a wide-ranging and ambitious agenda to members of the Legislature gathered in the Old House Chambers of the State Capitol Tuesday for her second State of the State address. Ivey’s main priorities are raising the state’s motor fuels tax and … Continued
March 6, 2019

Governor may consider a Special Session over prison construction

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Governor Kay Ivey may already be considering calling a Special Session to give lawmakers time to address one issue that didn’t make it the 2017 Legislative Session this year: prison construction. At a press conference Friday, Ivey said she would consider calling a Special Session if Sen. Cam … Continued
May 22, 2017

$845 million prison construction bill dead for Session, sponsor says

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — The plan to build four new “mega” prisons at a cost of up to $845 million is dead for this Legislative Session, the bill’s sponsor confirmed to the Alabama Political Reporter. With the Legislative Session hastening to an end and only a few meaningful hours left to … Continued
May 18, 2017

Senate approves toned-down prison construction bill

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — Gov. Robert Bentley’s priority legislation for the 2017 legislative session has made it through the Alabama Senate, but only an outline of the original plan remains in place. The Senate on Thursday passed a toned-down version of Bentley’s Prison Transformation Initiative — an ambitious, albeit controversial plan … Continued
March 17, 2017

Prison Bill compromise would reduce number of new prisons

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY — A toned-down version of the bill authorizing the construction of several new prisons with a bond issue is expected to go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, the bill’s sponsor said. The new plan, shepherded by Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) who has been the bill’s sponsor in the … Continued
March 9, 2017

General Fund uncertainty may hinder more criminal justice appropriations

By Chip Brownlee Alabama Political Reporter MONTGOMERY—The Alabama Medicaid Agency isn’t the only part of the State government with funding issues, and uncertainty over the future of Medicaid is spilling over into other agencies’ funding as well. The Alabama Legislature will begin its regular legislative session in just a few weeks. As lawmakers prepare, the session … Continued
January 26, 2017

Zeigler opposes $800 million no-bid contract to build prisons

By Brandon Moseley Alabama Politcal Reporter Thursday, November 17, 2016, Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler (R) said that he opposes Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s (R) plan to borrow $800 million or more to build new prisons in an anticipated January special session. Auditor Zeigler said, “Gov. Bentley is threatening a $400,000 special session to push … Continued
November 21, 2016