Criminal Justice (Corrections)

This bill (SF 57) requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reimburse counties $50 per day for holding or confining a sexually violent predator (SVP) in a county jail after the SVP commits a public offense while under a civil commitment order. It applies when an SVP is temporarily held pending criminal charges or sentenced to county jail confinement. HHS must pay these reimbursements using funds designated for SVP treatment at the Cherokee mental health facility or funds transferred under Code section 218.6. The bill directly affects county jails and HHS, changing how costs for SVP confinement are covered during criminal proceedings.

This bill establishes a new prison construction account within the Iowa prison infrastructure fund. Starting in fiscal year 2025, once bonds for the Iowa State Penitentiary are paid off, an equivalent amount will be deposited annually into this new account. These funds can then be appropriated by the General Assembly for building new prisons or replacing infrastructure at existing correctional facilities. Additionally, the bill mandates annual infrastructure project reports from the Department of Corrections and creates a legislative study committee to examine future prison capacity needs.