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7.3 Billion more in borrowing..

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Details of the prison reform plan approved by lawmakers

http://www.bakersfield.com/119/story/128871.html

Assembly Bill 900, approved by state legislators Thursday, allows the construction of 53,000 new prison and jail beds in two phases.

Total state spending amounts to $7.75 billion, including more than $6.1 billion in borrowing for state prison construction, more than $1.2 billion in borrowing for county jail construction, $300 million in general tax money for prison infrastructure improvements and $50 million for rehabilitation programs.

Counties would have to contribute 25 percent matching funds if they want the state’s help in building more jail cells, for another $300 million in local money.

Construction would be in two phases. The second phase is contingent on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation improving education, job training and other rehabilitation programs. The state must have started building half of the Phase I beds before it can begin Phase II.

The bill lets the state transfer 8,000 inmates out of state for up to four years. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is appealing a state judge’s ruling that the transfers are illegal under existing law. Officials could not immediately say how the new law would affect the appeal. Among the details:

Phase I

- State borrows $3.6 billion to build 12,000 beds in new cell blocks at existing prisons; 6,000 beds in smaller regional prisons for parole violators and inmates nearing release; and 6,000 medical beds.

- State pays $750 million and counties contribute 25 percent of the cost to build 8,000 county jail beds.

- The department gets $300 million to improve water, sewer and other infrastructure at prisons where new cell houses are to be built.

- The department gets an additional $50 million to improve rehabilitation programs, drug treatment and vocational education.

Phase II

- State borrows $2.5 billion to add 4,000 more beds at existing prisons; 10,000 more beds at regional prisons; and 2,000 more medical beds.

- State pays $470 million and counties contribute 25 percent of the cost for an additional 5,000 county jail beds.

The borrowing is through lease-revenue bonds, which do not require voter approval.