MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Local and Private

By: Senator(s) Gordon

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CHICKASAW COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, TO CONSTRUCT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY LOCATED IN THE COUNTY TO HOUSE MALE AND FEMALE OFFENDERS; TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO CONTRACT WITH THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, THE UNITED STATES AND ANY STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS FOR THE HOUSING OF OFFENDERS IN THE CUSTODY OF THOSE JURISDICTIONS; TO AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY TO CONTRACT WITH A PERSON OR A PRIVATE ENTITY FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY; TO PRESCRIBE OTHER POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNTY; TO PRESCRIBE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF THE FACILITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) "American Correctional Association Standards" means standards promulgated by the American Correctional Association as in effect from time to time.

(b) "County" means Chickasaw County, Mississippi.

(c) "Board of supervisors" means the Board of Supervisors of Chickasaw County, Mississippi.

(d) "Equipment" means any personal property which the county determines is necessary or helpful for the operation of the facility.

(e) "Facility" means a correctional facility or facilities located within the county which is constructed, leased, acquired or operated pursuant to this act to house two hundred fifty (250) male and/or female offenders.

(f) "Offender housing agreement" means a contract between the county and the state, by and through the Mississippi Department of Corrections, required under Section 2(j) of this act for housing state offenders in the facility.

(g) "Management contract" means a contract between the county and a private contractor for the operation and management of the facility by a private contractor which may allow the private contractor to exercise any authority granted unto the county under this act or general law.

(h) "Private contractor" means a person or legal entity which leases or subleases the facility from the county or has entered into a management contract with the county under this act. (i) "State" means the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 2. The county shall have all the powers necessary or convenient to effectuate and carry out the provisions of this act, including the following powers, in addition to others granted in this act:

(a) To make and execute contracts and all other instruments necessary or convenient for the performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers under this act;

(b) To authorize the employment of architects, engineers, contractors, developers, attorneys, inspectors, accountants, financial advisors and any other advisors, consultants and agents, as may be necessary in its judgment to carry out its powers under this act and to fix their compensation;

(c) To procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets in amounts and from insurers as it may deem advisable and to pay premiums on any such insurance;

(d) To construct, purchase, receive, lease, lease-purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve or use the facility or any item of equipment and to enter into agreements relating thereto, including the sale and issuance of certificates of participation and provide for the consideration and other terms and conditions that are acceptable to the county and are not in conflict with the provisions of this act;

(e) To lease a facility or any item of equipment for a term not to exceed twenty-five (25) years to a private contractor for rentals and upon the terms and conditions that are acceptable to the county and are not in conflict with the provisions of this act without regard to any general laws of the state regulating the disposition or conveyance of an interest in public property; (f) To contract for a primary term not to exceed twenty-five (25) years with a public or private contractor to operate and manage the facility and employees of the facility constructed, acquired or operated under this act;

(g) To borrow money and issue its obligations for the purpose of carrying out its powers under this act at rates of interest and upon terms and conditions that are acceptable to the county and are not in conflict with the provisions of this act without regard to any general laws of the state regulating the borrowing of money or issuance of obligations by public bodies, provided that any obligations issued by the county under this act shall be payable solely out of revenues received by the county in connection with the operation or lease of the facility and shall never constitute a debt or obligation of the county or the state;

(h) In connection with borrowing money and the issuance of obligations as set forth in this act, to pledge or assign the facility and its assets and revenues, enter into trust indentures, deeds of trust, mortgages and security agreements, contract for bond insurance and other credit enhancement devices, and take any other action and enter into any other agreements as the county deems necessary or appropriate, all on terms and conditions that are acceptable to the county and are not in conflict with the provisions of this act, without regard to any provision or rule of law which would otherwise be applicable;

(i) To make application to and contract with the United States or any department thereof for any grants or loans that may be applied to the costs of construction, operation or management of the facility or any public utility or roads and to comply with the terms and conditions of such grants and loans;

(j) To enter into an offender housing agreement with the state, by and through the Mississippi Department of Corrections, upon appropriation of funds by the Mississippi Legislature, to provide for the private housing, care and control of male and/or female offenders who are in the custody of the state and offenders who speak a language other than English as their native tongue. The total number of state offenders at the facility shall not exceed two hundred fifty (250) offenders as established in the offender housing agreement. The Mississippi Department of Corrections shall contract with the county for the purposes set out in this act for a period of twenty-five (25) years. The offender housing agreement shall provide that the Department of Corrections pay a state offender cost-per-day for each offender that is housed at a rate established under Section 47-5-1211, Mississippi Code of 1972, which shall be ten percent (10%) less than a facility at the same level and quality of service offered by the Department of Corrections as established by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review. The offender housing agreement shall include a minimum level of occupancy of state offenders of eighty-five percent (85%) and provide for a three percent (3%) annual increase in the per diem rate. The state shall retain responsibility for medical care and expenses for state offenders to the extent required by law; and

(k) To contract with the United States and its territories or any state or states or any political subdivision to provide for housing, care and control in the facility of offenders who are otherwise confined who are in the custody of the jurisdiction, who do not have histories of escape, and who are sentenced to terms of incarceration by a court of competent jurisdiction, to enter into agreements which may extend for time periods that are acceptable to the parties, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary, and to exercise all powers necessary or desirable in connection with the operation of the facility, including the power to incarcerate offenders described above.

If the facility houses Mississippi offenders, the facility shall not displace Mississippi's offender beds with federal or another state's offender's beds unless the facility has obtained prior written approval from the Commissioner of Corrections.

SECTION 3. The county may contract with a developer whereby the developer agrees to construct or procure the construction of the facility without regard to any laws of the state requiring public bids for purchases, acquisitions and construction.

SECTION 4. (1) The facility shall be designed, constructed, operated and maintained in accordance with American Correctional Association Standards and shall comply with all constitutional standards of the United States, the state and with all court orders applicable to the facility. Offenders in need of treatment services and rehabilitation shall be treated separately from other offenders for the period of time that treatment services and rehabilitation are necessary for such offenders.

(2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the construction, operation and management of a facility shall not require a certificate of need pursuant to the provisions of Title 41, Chapter 7, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 5. (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction shall not be employed by the facility.

(2) A person shall not be employed as a corrections officer at the facility unless the person has been trained in the use of force and firearms in accordance with American Correctional Association Standards or has satisfactorily completed the training program of the Mississippi Department of Corrections or the corrections training program sponsored by the local community college. If a person is employed as a corrections officer by a private contractor that is operating the facility pursuant to a management contract, the private contractor shall cause the required training to be provided.

(3) A corrections officer employed at the facility shall not use force or firearms except while on the grounds of the facility or while transporting offenders of the facility and then only under the circumstances set forth in subsections (4) and (5) of this section.

(4) A corrections officer shall not use force except such nondeadly force as is reasonably necessary in the following situations:

(a) To prevent the commission of a felony or misdemeanor, including escape;

(b) To defend himself or others against physical assault;

(c) To prevent serious damage to property;

(d) To enforce facility regulations and orders; and

(e) To prevent or quell a riot or disturbance.

(5) A corrections officer shall not use firearms or other deadly force, except as a last resort when reasonably necessary to prevent the commission of a violent felony, to prevent the escape of a convicted felon from custody, or to defend the officer or any other person from imminent danger of death or serious bodily injury.

(6) A private contractor shall have the same standing, authority, rights and responsibilities as the county in any agreement, formal or informal, with local law enforcement agencies concerning the latter's obligations in the event of a riot, escape or other emergency situation involving the facility. To the extent provided in any management contract, a private contractor may exercise the powers granted to the county under this act or powers pursuant to the general laws of the State of Mississippi as they pertain to the incarceration of offenders.

SECTION 6. Any offense which would be a crime if committed within a correctional institution operated by the state shall be a crime if committed in the facility.

SECTION 7. (1) Neither the state nor the county shall assume jurisdiction or custody of any federal offenders or offenders from other states or political subdivisions who are incarcerated in the facility. The offenders shall remain subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or another state or political subdivision, as applicable. Neither the state nor the county shall be liable for loss or injury resulting from the acts of the offenders, nor shall the state or the county be liable for any injuries to the offenders.

(2) Neither the state nor the county shall be liable for any actions taken by a private contractor in connection with the facility, nor shall the state be liable for any debt incurred or obligations issued by the county.

SECTION 8. (1) The facility shall be operated and managed by a private contractor pursuant to a management contract. The terms and conditions of a management contract shall be approved by the board of supervisors and if state offenders are to be held pursuant to a contract approved by the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

(2) A management contract shall authorize a private contractor to contract on behalf of the county for the incarceration of offenders in the facility as set forth in Section 2(k) of this act and shall grant the private contractor any other rights and powers that are necessary or convenient for the operation and management of the facility and are consistent with the provisions of this act, including the power to employ personnel who are needed for the operation and management of the facility, to provide or cause to be provided the appropriate training including the use of force and firearms required by Section 5(2) of this act, and to maintain accounting and financial records for the facility in accordance with state law and rules promulgated by the State Auditor.

(3) A management contract shall provide that any sovereign immunity of the state, or any political subdivisions thereof, or any public official immunity shall not extend to the private contractor. Neither the private contractor nor any insurer of the private contractor may plead the defense of sovereign immunity or public official immunity in any action arising out of or related to the performance of the management contract.

(4) A management contract shall provide that the private contractor shall be responsible for the reimbursement of all costs and expenses incurred by the state or any political subdivisions thereof in connection with legal actions brought in the state by or on behalf of any offender incarcerated in the facility, including court costs, sheriff's fees, witness fees, district attorney expenses, expenses of the Office of the Attorney General, indigent or public defender fees and expenses, judicial expenses, court reporter expenses and damage awards which are adjudicated by a jury.

(5) A management contract shall provide that the private contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless the state and any political subdivisions thereof, and any officers, members, employees or agents of the foregoing, for any claim or liability for damage or injury to any person or property related to or arising from the operation and management of a facility, including liability for loss or injury resulting from the acts of offenders incarcerated at the facility and liability for any injuries to the offenders which are adjudicated by a jury.

(6) A management contract may contain any other provisions the county deems necessary or appropriate, including provisions that may be necessary to cause the management contract to comply with promulgations of the Internal Revenue Service applicable to the contract.

SECTION 9. The state or any political subdivisions thereof, or any members, officers, employees or agents of the foregoing, shall not be liable for a private contractor's actions or failure to act while operating and managing a facility pursuant to a management contract.

SECTION 10. (1) The county may enter into lease agreements with a person or legal entity pursuant to which the county may agree to lease the facility or equipment for use by the county for a primary term not to exceed twenty-five (25) years. All lease agreements may contain terms and conditions as the board of supervisors shall determine to be appropriate and in the public interest, including any provision which a master lease-purchase agreement may contain pursuant to Section 31-7-10(5), Mississippi Code of 1972, may provide for the payment of lease payments which include an interest component computed at a rate or rates as shall be approved by the board of supervisors, may include an annual allocation dependency clause, may contain an option granting to the county the right to purchase the leased property upon the expiration of the primary term, or upon an earlier date that may be agreed upon by the parties at a price as set forth in or computed in accordance with the lease agreement and may provide that all or any obligations thereunder are payable from specified revenues pledged as security therefor.

(2) The county may lease publicly owned real property to a person or legal entity for the purpose of enabling the person or legal entity to construct a facility on the property and to lease the facility to the county. A ground lease shall not be for a primary term in excess of twice the primary term of the lease with respect to the facility to be constructed on the real property. Any public body in the state may lease, sell or otherwise convey property to the county without consideration or for consideration as the governing body of the public body shall determine to be appropriate under the circumstances, and to enter into agreements with the county relating thereto, which agreements may extend over any period of time, notwithstanding any provision or rule of law to the contrary.

(3) This section shall be full and complete authority for the authorization, execution and delivery of lease agreements authorized under this act and none of the restrictions, requirements, conditions and limitations of the general laws of the state applicable to acquisition, construction and drawing of buildings or facilities shall apply to lease agreements under this section and all powers necessary to carry out provisions of this section are conferred upon the county.

SECTION 11. All obligations, including bonds, notes and other evidence of indebtedness issued by the county pursuant to this act or state law and all interest payable thereunder or with respect thereto, all leases, trust indentures, deeds of trust, mortgages, security agreements and other contracts or agreements entered into pursuant to this act or state law, and all purchases required to construct the facility or to acquire equipment shall be exempt from all taxation in the state, including sales taxes and the contractor's tax imposed by Section 27-65-21, Mississippi Code of 1972. The state shall make all offender housing agreement cost-per-day payments to a trustee bank which shall disburse funds upon requisition of the private contractor. As provided by general law applicable to political subdivisions of the state, the facility and the revenues derived from its operation shall also be exempt from all taxation in the state, including all ad valorem taxes levied by the state or any political subdivision.

SECTION 12. This act shall be full and complete authority for the exercise of all powers and authority granted herein and no requirements or restrictions of law which would otherwise be applicable to acts of the county shall be applicable except as expressly provided herein.

SECTION 13. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.