AR HB1495

Appropriates $10,500,000 for lease payments associated with debt service on a 948-bed institution at Malvern, a 400-bed addition at Grimes Unit at Newport, and an 862-bed Special Needs Unit and addition to Ouachita River Unit at Malvern.

Appropriates $39,283,656 for construction to provide 576 additional beds at the North Central Unit, the largest single project allocation.

Appropriates funds for various facility improvements including expansion of visitation and administration centers at McPherson Unit ($707,869 combined), water treatment plant replacement at Tucker Unit ($1,093,848), and armory construction at Varner and Tucker Units ($138,399).

Appropriates $3,320,000 from the Department of Correction Farm Fund for grain storage bins at three units ($2,430,250) and feed mill upgrades at Cummins Unit ($889,750).

Effective July 1, 2017, with an emergency clause declaring the appropriations essential to agency operations and prohibiting use of these funds for general maintenance and operations budgets.