AR HB1223

Establishes maximum of 4,717 regular employees for the Department of Correction for fiscal year 2015-2016, with specific salary grades and position counts for all classifications from Director ($149,017) through Administrative Specialist I positions.

Appropriates $362,485,628 for Inmate Care & Custody operations, including $170,283,254 in regular salaries, $65,372,883 in personal services matching, $1,550,000 in overtime, and $57,120,958 in operating expenses.

Authorizes appropriations for six additional departmental programs: Inmate Welfare Program ($13,408,965), Work Release Program ($7,376,070), Prison Industry Program ($11,549,948), Farm Operations ($21,149,683), County Jail Reimbursement ($40,184,970), and other specialized programs totaling approximately $3.9 million.

Permits 170 temporary or part-time "Extra Help" employees and establishes 462 contingent positions for medical services that may be activated upon Board approval and Legislative Council/Joint Budget Committee review.

Includes authorization for flexible fund transfers and reallocation of resources between line items and programs upon approval by the Chief Fiscal Officer and Legislative Council/Joint Budget Committee, with specific limitations on transfer amounts and purposes.