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2011 House Bill 5174: Allow adult prisoners at (former) privatized youth prison
  1. Introduced by Rep. Jon Bumstead (R) on November 10, 2011, to allow the state to enter a contract to house adult prisoners at the former Michigan youth correctional facility in Baldwin, a privately owned and managed prison whose previous contract with the state was revoked by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005.
    • Referred to the House Appropriations Committee on November 10, 2011.
      • Reported in the House on December 14, 2011, with the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
    • Substitute offered in the House on February 16, 2012, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that increases the threshold savings that would allow privatization from 5 percent to 10 percent. This substitute was defeated in favor of another that contains this and other changes. to replace the previous version of the bill with one that requires even greater savings before contracting out management of a prison. Note: Private prison management companies (like the one that formerly ran the Baldwin prison) are extremely unlikely to employ guards who belong to the state's largest prison guard union, because the terms of its contract are in large part why Michigan prisons reportedly cost more per prisoner than in other states. The prison guard union has lobbied heavily against this bill, and in favor of making it harder to privatize prisons. The substitute failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Substitute offered by Rep. Jon Bumstead (R) on February 16, 2012, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that authorizes contracting with any private prison management company, not just the one that owns the Baldwin facility. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Kate Segal (D) on February 16, 2012, to require private prison management companies to provide a list of all campaign contributions before being awarded a contract. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Dian Slavens (D) on February 16, 2012, to tie-bar the bill to House Bill 5359, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 5359 would prohibit giving a state contract to a vendor who has made campaign contributions in the past 12 months. The amendment failed 46 to 62 in the House on February 16, 2012.
      Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

    • Amendment offered by Rep. Barb Byrum (D) on February 16, 2012, to prohibit contracting out a prison to a company that allegedly has "a history of violations related to security," employment conditions, cost overruns, etc. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Fred Durhal, Jr. (D) on February 16, 2012, to require the privatized prison management company to have a $1 billion liability insurance policy. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Barb Byrum (D) on February 16, 2012, to mandate that at least 10 percent of any subcontracts awarded by a privatized prison management company must be with Michigan companies. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Kate Segal (D) on February 16, 2012, to mandate that at least 15 percent of any subcontracts awarded by a privatized prison management company must be with Michigan small businesses. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Steven Lindberg (D) on February 16, 2012, to require additional reporting on a privatized prison management company's business officer compensation amounts, any security incidents, anticipated cost savings, etc. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Steven Lindberg (D) on February 16, 2012, to require a privatized prison management company give current state prison guards (who are also current members of the SEIU-affiliated prison guard union) the first chance at any hiring. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Steven Lindberg (D) on February 16, 2012, to require any "issues" related to work performed by prisoners at a privatized prison be resolved before a new state contract can be awarded to the management company. The amendment failed 47 to 61 in the House on February 16, 2012.
      Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

    • Amendment offered by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D) on February 16, 2012, to establish that a privatized prison is financially liable for any damages arising out of a security breach (whereas current statute exempts prisons run by the state are immune from such liability). The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Steven Lindberg (D) on February 16, 2012, to require certain privatized prison reports to be submitted to local governments as well as the legislature, and posted on the Department of Corrections website. The amendment passed 108 to 0 in the House on February 16, 2012.
      Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"

    • Amendment offered by Rep. Fred Durhal, Jr. (D) on February 16, 2012, to require certain privatized prison reports to be submitted to each member of local governments's government bodies, as well as to the local governments themselves. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Steven Lindberg (D) on February 16, 2012, to also require the proposed 10 percent threshold savings required for privatization to go forward to apply to state administrative oversight. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.
    • Amendment offered by Rep. Barb Byrum (D) on February 16, 2012, to require a local citizens advisory council to be created to review "citizen complaints and concerns" about a privatized prison. This would not be required for a regular prison. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on February 16, 2012.

Comments

Re: 2011 House Bill 5174 (Allow adult prisoners at (former) privatized youth prison )  by Renegade Solutions on September 12, 2012 
Please contact your legislator and tell them no thank you, we don't want to privatize our prisons and enter into a corporate contract that guarantees the government maintain a 90% occupancy rate for at least 20 years

Who are they going to fill those prisons with do you think? Who looks at this and thinks it's a good idea?

Re: 2011 House Bill 5174 (Allow adult prisoners at (former) privatized youth prison )  by Auverney on January 17, 2012 

 First-The money is already in the budget to police the operation. Besides Michigan has shut down two adult prisons in Michigan. Private prisons will be a way to save the state money. Furthermore, a contract will need to be drawn up that Michigan and the corporation both understand will keep the public safe.


Second-Did you actually read the headline? The prison USED TO BE a youth facility. The corporation has turned it into an adult facility. Youth offenders are not and WILL NOT be housed there along with adults.


Maybe you should actually read the Bill and do some homework before you comment on it. Just a thought.



Re: 2011 House Bill 5174 (Allow adult prisoners at (former) privatized youth prison )  by dbrown on November 29, 2011 

 I have two major problems with this bill, first, the State should not privatize any prisons because the Legislature will NEVER budget enough money to do a decent job of policing the operation and if you don't your asking for trouble. No. 2 anyone that would suggest housing adult and youth offenders in the facility should be locked up in that facility.



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