This bill proposes the creation of a new section in chapter 54-23.3 of the North Dakota Century Code, which addresses the use of local jails or correctional facilities for inmates who have been sentenced to the physical custody of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The bill stipulates that if the department is at capacity and denies admission to an inmate, it may utilize local jails or correctional facilities, negotiating terms with each facility. Admission is considered denied if a county requests placement and the department does not respond within seven days. If the denial exceeds this timeframe, the department is responsible for paying a contracted rate starting from the initial notification of the judgment.

Additionally, the bill mandates that any agreement made under this section must specify a minimum daily rate per inmate, which includes medical costs. This rate will be paid by the department to the governing body of the jail or correctional facility, beginning the day after the department receives notice of the court order for custody and continuing until the inmate's admission date. This legislation aims to ensure that inmates are housed appropriately even when the department's facilities are full, while also outlining the financial responsibilities of the department in such situations.