Authority: Title 53.1, Chapter 3 and § 53.1-21, Code of Virginia.
A. From July 1, 1996, to June 30, 1998, the Board of Corrections shall not approve or commit additional funds for the state share of the cost of construction, enlargement, or renovation of a local or regional jail facility. The Board may grant exceptions for the following reasons:
1. To address emergency projects needed to comply with Board of Corrections' standards or life safety code requirements;
2. To address those projects for which contracts for design of a local or regional jail facility had been signed as of March 1, 1996;
3. To adjust a previously approved funding level, which had been based on planning study estimates, to the actual project cost as determined by competitive bid; and
4. To adjust a previously approved regional jail construction project in any case where one or more additional localities have elected to join an existing regional jail authority in order to close one or more existing local jails, or in any case where one or more small jails with an average daily population of less than ten in fiscal year 1995 have developed a plan to implement a new regional program or facility in order to close one or more existing local jails, subject to certification by the Secretary of Administration that such an adjustment shall result in an actual cost savings to the Commonwealth.
B.1. The Commonwealth's share of the cost to construct, renovate, or expand local and regional correctional facilities shall be paid out of this appropriation as follows:
| 1996-97 | 1997-98 |
City of Roanoke Jail | $385,259 | $0 |
Henry County Jail | $65,500 | $0 |
Piedmont Regional Jail | $2,247 | $0 |
Warren County Jail | $49,682 | $0 |
2. The Department of Corrections shall reimburse the Commonwealth's share of the construction, renovation or expansion costs for the local and regional jail facilities specified in Paragraph B.1. within 60 days of completion of such project. In the case of disagreement between the Department and the affected locality over cost items eligible for reimbursement, the Department may withhold only the amount in dispute for a period of ninety days pending resolution by the Board of Corrections.
3. The Department of Corrections is authorized to review and comment on proposed plans to replace the Loudoun County Jail, and such review and comment shall not limit the authority of the Board of Corrections to approve or not approve such project at such time in the future as the moratorium on approval of jail projects, as described in paragraph A of this Item, shall no longer be in effect. Such review and comment by the Department of Corrections shall not constitute a commitment from the general fund for the state share of the project, nor shall such review and comment constitute a commitment or approval by the Board of Corrections.
D. Subject to the conditions stated in this Item, and with the prior written approval of the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget, there is hereby reappropriated the unexpended balances remaining at the close of business on June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, in the Financial Assistance for Confinement in Local Facilities program. The reappropriations shall be applicable only for payments owing for physical plant projects for local jails which have been approved by the Governor and for which contracts are in effect June 30, 1996, and June 30, 1997, respectively.
E. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, the Governor is authorized to withhold approval for state payment by reimbursement or otherwise, of expenditures which may cause the amount listed for the subprograms in this Item to be overexpended.
F. The Department of Corrections shall enter into agreements with each local and regional jail to house state-responsible offenders and effect transfers of convicted state felons between and among such jails. Such agreements shall be governed by the provisions of Item 78, Paragraph M of this act. The Department of Corrections shall provide quarterly reports on the status of this program to the Governor and the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations Committees, beginning on July 1, 1997.