The bill amends AS 33.30.061 to grant the commissioner of corrections the authority to reduce the costs associated with housing prisoners. This includes the ability to consolidate existing facilities and designate the placement of prisoners in out-of-state facilities. Additionally, if a prisoner has more than seven years remaining in their sentence and is placed in an out-of-state facility, the commissioner is required to ensure that the prisoner is housed separately from non-resident prisoners.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Department of Corrections annually estimate the cost savings resulting from these actions and report this information as part of their submissions under AS 37.07.050. The legislature is then allowed to appropriate an amount equivalent to the estimated annual cost savings for educational purposes.

Statutes affected:
SB0126A, AM SB 126, introduced 03/12/2025: 33.30.061