124th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1611		LR 2289(03)
	An Act To Ensure Humane Treatment for Special Management Prisoners
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Current biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The Department of Corrections will require significant additional General Fund appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2010-11 for the additional costs at the Maine State Prison that result from this bill.  Prohibiting a prisoner determined to be suffering from a serious mental illness from being confined in a special management unit will require the department to reassign these prisoners into 2 existing 56-bed units presently used for close security prisoners and necessitate the construction of a new close security housing unit at the Maine State Prison to house the inmates who are displaced.  If the department were authorized to issue securities for the construction of a new pod, the debt service on $12,600,000 is estimated to be approximately $1,500,000 a year for 10 years.   The additional staffing cost associated with the reassignment of prisoners to the existing units is estimated to be $3,300,000 annually.  The annual cost associated with staffing a new 56-bed housing unit is estimated to be $2,600,000 per year.
	This bill also expands a prisoner's right to a hearing which results in the need for additional Hearing Officer positions and additional Correctional Officer positions to escort prisoners to these hearings.  The annual cost of these positions and hearing-related expenses is estimated to be $975,000 annually.  The Department of Corrections will also require funding for the one-time costs of additional audio and video equipment.
	The timing of the General Fund appropriations required by the Department of Corrections will depend on how quickly the department will be able to reassign prisoners and the timing of separate legislation authorizing the issuance of securities to construct a new housing unit at the Maine State Prison.  Therefore, no appropriations are made at this time.