Senate Bill 25-212

BY SENATOR(S) Kirkmeyer and Bridges, Amabile, Gonzales J., Pelton B.;

also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Taggart and Bird, Sirota, Joseph, Soper.

Concerning the temporary use of the Centennial correctional facility-south c-tower to house inmates during the Sterling correctional facility access controls project, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

SECTION 1.  Legislative declaration.  The general assembly finds that the temporary use of c-tower at Centennial correctional facility-south is necessary to accommodate the impact of the access controls capital renewal project at the Sterling correctional facility. It is the general assembly's intent that major accommodations of this kind be considered by the capital development committee in the future.

SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 17-1-104.3, add (1)(b.6) as follows:

17-1-104.3.  Correctional facilities - locations - security level - report - repeal. (1) (b.6) (I)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Centennial correctional facility-south c-tower may be used to temporarily house protective-, close-, and medium-custody inmates for the Sterling correctional facility access controls project, for the duration of that project, and for the time required to temporarily relocate the inmates and then return them to the Sterling correctional facility. To the extent feasible, the department shall house an inmate from the Sterling correctional facility in the Centennial correctional facility-south c-tower only after determining that there are no suitable beds available that would not require additional appropriations to house that inmate in another facility operated by the department of corrections.

(II)  The department shall, at least thirty days prior to relocating any inmates pursuant to subsection (1)(b.6)(I) of this section, provide a structured relocation plan to the joint budget committee and the house of representatives judiciary committee and the senate judiciary committee, or their successor committees, and shall update those committees during the project. The plan must include, but is not limited to:

(A)  What specific educational, rehabilitative, and vocational programs or classes will be available to the inmates, including the type of programs, the number of inmates that can be enrolled in each program, the length of each program, and the location where each program will be delivered;

(B)  What behavioral health and medical care will be available;

(C)  What employment opportunities will be available and the rate of pay for each employment opportunity;

(D)  What recreational opportunities will be available, including the location and length of time that an inmate will be able to access the recreational opportunities;

(E)  What visitation opportunities will be available, how often they will be available, the location for visitation, and whether that visitation is contact or non-contact;

(F)  How many hours a day an inmate will be allowed out of their cell based on their medium or close custody level or protective custody status;

(G)  Whether, prior to transfer, the department plans to conduct a reclassification or other custody review on any medium security inmate to determine whether the inmate is appropriate to progress or have an override to minimum-restrictive custody; and

(H)  An estimate of how long inmates will be temporarily held at Centennial correctional facility-south c-tower and if the relocations will be based on the duration of the access controls project at the Sterling correctional facility.

(III)  The department shall provide updates on the status of the access controls project at its"SMART Act" hearing required by section 2-7-203.

(IV)  This subsection (1)(b.6) is repealed, effective June 30, 2027.

SECTION 3.  Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

$1,829,000 is appropriated to the department of corrections for use by institutions. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement this act, the institutions may use this appropriation for Centennial correctional facility-south c-tower start-up costs related to the superintendents subprogram.

SECTION 4.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.