Section 15:834.2 - Plan for expansion of existing space or contracts for additional housing of individuals in the custody of the department; legislative approvalA. Before the execution of any agreement or contract for the expansion of space for the housing of individuals in the custody of the department, either through improvements to an existing facility or construction of a new state facility, or through a contract or other agreement with a local government facility or private contractor, the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, hereinafter referred to as "secretary", shall prepare a detailed analysis reflecting the need for the expansion as well as a recommended plan to remedy the shortage of housing, hereinafter referred to as "the plan". The secretary shall submit the plan to both the House Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice and Senate Committee on Judiciary B for approval. The form and content of the plan shall be determined by the chairmen of the two committees, and shall also include the criteria provided for in Subsection B of this Section.B. For purposes of the plan, the secretary shall consider the existing resources currently available for the housing of individuals committed to the custody of the department with an assessment of the sufficiency of those resources in enabling the department to comply with established treatment, training, and security needs. If it is determined that additional housing is needed, the secretary shall develop a plan for the expansion of housing space for such purpose. The plan shall include options for the expansion of a state facility, a contract or other agreement with a local correctional facility, and a contract or other agreement with a private correctional facility. The plan shall contain a comparison between the three methods of increasing the availability of housing by using state, local, and private facilities, and shall include consideration of the costs associated with feeding and housing individuals, the costs associated with employment of qualified personnel to properly secure and maintain the facility, and the availability of facilities to provide adequate healthcare for aged or infirm inmates. The plan shall include projected long-term price increases for contracts with private correctional facilities.C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply in West Carroll Parish. Acts 2016, No. 561, §1, eff. July 1, 2016.Added by Acts 2016, No. 561,s. 1, eff. 7/1/2016.