Relating to prison infrastructure

This bill creates a new prison construction account within the Iowa prison infrastructure (IPI) fund.177).8108A), which receives moneys each fiscal year from fines, fees, costs, and forfeited bail collected by the clerks of the district court in criminal cases. The bill provides that for FY 2025-2026, and each fiscal year thereafter, if infrastructure financing bonds pertaining to the Iowa state penitentiary (Fort Madison, Iowa) are paid off, an amount equal to the amounts paid on such bonds for FY 2024-2025 shall be deposited into the new prison construction account from the IPI fund and shall only be used pursuant to an appropriation made by the general assembly for the construction of new prisons or the replacement of infrastructure at existing prisons. Moneys in the account do not revert and are not deposited in the general fund of the state at the end of each fiscal year (unlike the other moneys in the IPI fund).79) and moves the infrastructure project reporting requirement for the department of corrections in that Code section to Code chapter 904 (department of corrections). The bill requests that the legislative council establish an interim study committee to explore and consider issues involving prison capacity and the feasibility of an additional prison or other prison housing options. The interim study committee is directed to consider factors set forth in the bill. The bill requires the interim study committee to, on or before December 18, 2025, submit a report to the general assembly and the governor.