This bill amends the laws governing the operation of county jails as follows.
1. It amends the County Jail Operations Fund to provide that, beginning July 1, 2025 and prior to July 1, 2026, state funding must be appropriated annually for the fund in the amount of $25,445,838 plus any additional amount the Legislature may appropriate. Beginning July 1, 2026, state funding must be appropriated annually for that fund in an amount equal to 20% of the total General Fund appropriation to the Department of Corrections for the costs of all correctional facilities under the department plus any additional amount the Legislature may appropriate. Under current law, state funding is required to be appropriated annually for that fund in the amount of $20,342,104.
2. It provides that, in addition to those state funding requirements for the County Jail Operations Fund, beginning July 1, 2026, state funding must be appropriated annually for the fund in an amount equal to 90% of the costs incurred by county jails and the regional jails in the prior fiscal year in complying with the mandatory standards established by the Commissioner of Corrections.
3. It stipulates that, if a county jail fails to report certain information to the department by the end of a fiscal year as required by law, the department shall distribute the quarterly funding payment for that jail under the County Jail Operations Fund between all other jails that are in compliance with the reporting requirement for that quarter.
4. It provides that, in adopting rules and standards for the county jails, the commissioner incorporate the advisory input of the County Corrections Professional Standards Council. Current law only requires the commissioner to consider that advisory input.
5. It amends the law establishing the council to provide that administrative services costs associated with the activities of the council must be paid by the department.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 852, HP 538: 34-A.1208, 34-A.1210