Alaska Legislature: Senate Dept. of Corrections FSC, 4/16/26, 5:15pm
Alaska News • • 7 min
Articles from this transcript
Senate panel cuts jail funding in half, seeks out-of-state inmate housing
Alaska Senate panel cut jail funding in half to $2.8 million and ordered the state to explore housing inmates out of state, signaling a major shift in corrections policy.
Senate panel advances $535 million corrections budget with jail funding cut
Alaska Senate panel approved a $535 million corrections budget Wednesday but cut jail funding in half and ordered a study on housing inmates out of state.
Okay, I'd like to call the Senate Finance Subcommittee for the Department of Corrections to order. Let the record reflect the time is 5:15 PM on April 16th. I'm joined today by Senator Olson, Chair, Senator Tobin, myself, Senator Kawasaki. I'd like to thank Zach Lawhorn for taking the minutes— or not the minutes, the sound and audio. Today's agenda, we have a budget closeout for the corrections, Department of Corrections.
Legislative Finance is available for questions. Kelly Goods, staff to Senator Olson, will go over the changes now. Thank you, Senator. For the record, Kelly Goods, staff to Senator Olson. The Senate Finance Department of Corrections Subcommittee submits the following FY27 numbers: $486,953,000 unrestricted general funds, $14,218,000 designated general funds, $24,293,000 other funds, and $9,598,000 federal funds.
Also 200— 2,127 full-time permanent positions. The subcommittee reviewed the FY '27 budget request and recommends the following actions: the subcommittee accepts all of the governor's requests. The subcommittee reduced the House add for community and regional jails by 50%, which makes The number going forward, $2,795,000. The subcommittee also includes intent language to issue a request for information regarding housing inmates outside Alaska. And the last recommendation is to the full Senate Finance Committee to add funds to Legislative Budget and Audit to procure an outside firm to conduct an independent cost driver study for the department.
And that concludes the subcommittee report. Thank you. And Senator Kaufman is here for the record. Are there any questions of committee for either Ms. Goode or Connor Bell? Okay, hearing and seeing none, Senator Tobin.
Mr. Chairman, I move the FY27 operating budget for the Department of Corrections from subcommittee with attached legislative finance budget and Action Sheet and Wordage reports dated 4/15/2026. I also move to give the Legislative Finance Division the ability to make any technical or conforming changes. Great. Thank you for the motion. Are there any objections?
Okay. Hearing and seeing none, motion passes. That concludes the meeting of this subcommittee today. We are adjourned at 5:16 PM.
