MS HB1451

All contracts for private correctional services must be subject to Mississippi's purchasing laws and the Personal Service Contract Review Board approval process.

Private correctional facilities are defined as "agencies" under state law for purposes of public purchasing, personal service contract review, public records disclosure, and procurement process evaluations.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) shall include private correctional facilities in its biennial review of state agency procurement processes.

Private correctional facility contracts must comply with existing requirements including contractor qualifications, cost savings of at least 10% compared to state operations, and compliance with federal and state laws.

The act takes effect July 1, 2016, and applies these oversight requirements to all private correctional service contracts going forward.