SB59 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Cam Ward
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Prisons, Alabama Prison Transformation Initiative Act, construction of new facilities provided for, Joint Legislative Prison Committee, reporting requirements increased, Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority, bonds authorized for prison facilities, construction agreements, renovating and demolishing existing prison facilities, proceeds on existing one mill tax, distribution further provided for, Secs. 14-2-1, 14-2-6, 14-2-12, 14-2-13.1, 14-2-14, 14-2-16, 14-2-19, 14-2-21, 14-2-28, 14-2-34, 28-3-201, 28-3-202, 28-3-24, 29-2-20, 38-4-12, 40-8-3 am'd.
Summary: SB59 would finance and guide the construction of four new women's and regional prison facilities, consolidate some male inmate facilities, and renovate or demolish aging prisons using bonds backed by specific state taxes.
What This Bill Does
It would authorize the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority to issue up to $800 million in bonds to fund new facilities, renovations, and demolitions. It would allow various delivery methods for regional prisons (including design-build and public-private partnerships) and require a project management team and reporting to the Legislature. It would require consolidation of certain male facilities, disposal or sale of unused property, and pledging portions of the one-mill tax and liquor taxes to secure debt, along with annual and semiannual progress and savings reporting.

Who It Affects
Inmates and corrections officers: could benefit from reduced overcrowding, improved safety, and new inmate re-entry programs due to new and consolidated facilities.
Taxpayers and state finances: bond debt would be financed with dedicated tax revenues (one-mill and liquor taxes) and requires ongoing reporting on costs, savings, and debt service implications.

Key Provisions
authorize ACIFA to issue up to $800 million in bonds or other funding for women's and regional prison facilities, renovations, and demolitions, with no maturity date later than 30 years.
allow the Authority to design, construct, finance, lease, maintain, or any combination for women's and regional facilities and to use alternative delivery methods (including design-build, design-build-finance, construction management at risk, or public-private partnerships) for regional prisons; require a project management team and diversity-oriented procurement.
require the Department of Corrections to consolidate certain male inmate facilities and to dispose of property not needed for corrections purposes; provide procedures for sale/lease of property and use of proceeds to fund facilities or debt service.
pledge portions of the net proceeds of the one-mill tax and certain liquor taxes to secure bond debt, with second and third priority security from these revenues and required reimbursement to the Department of Human Resources if those revenues are used for debt service.
redefine facility-related terms (including regional and women's facilities) and set criteria for regional prisons (at least 3,500 inmates and $100 million project cost).
require annual and semiannual reporting on construction progress, expenditures, savings from consolidation, and debt service, to the Joint Legislative Prison Committee and other fiscal committees.
set consolidation limits (not more than six independent male facilities once regional male facilities become operational, with an exception if capacity grows beyond 125%), and require compliance with procurement laws for regional facilities while encouraging local and minority participation.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Prisons and Prisoners