[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6394619,"mediaKeyId","2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c","parentId",2102710,"title","Budget would replace classroom Chromebooks and expand GED testing in Georgia prisons","audioSeconds",204,"startMs",2887000,"endMs",3091000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c&start=2887&end=3091","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c/thumbnail_2887000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6394619/Georgia/Budget-would-replace-classroom-Chromebooks-and-expand-GED-testing-in-Georgia-prisons","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394619-9a7918ebe876c79e679f40d7106613a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806339&Signature=OZOGa0k~yr66VSThDf9ov1Ezi~wdFnDg9jcJljay2R4HGFif0lqpxUuVrDLfoyn7hyweCYaO9~Q1KhjI0wWq26zobFJHJhETBMauwPNwHk6SuZU0UR-o~JmjRwkPo4QQJ1ofuR7sc6RU8CV1aiLzS0WttFrcCjEOP9E9vPwqAkc6C3aFmFLDzyZw0Tr89QkxqAPz9xo0o8D0HhDehM0SDr73umeR8fduZGwvWPvUfPjp3PUNFhH7DFO3Ah5EIX3VkIDCIT3NPdigdJJZ2FyYDLqTLMKkT95QpLLmVYifhCc~qCrr1GxSCzW9pEIN3NNi5YF8wpzFwqWuIDBVs5WXTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Georgia State Legislature ","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told the subcommittee the department is seeking one‑time and ongoing funds to support educational programming that officials say lowers recidivism.

The presentation said the department would replace about 1,000 Chromebooks in the amended FY25 budget (slide cited $450,000) and expand the contract to increase GED testing from 20 to 25 test sites or units (presentation cited a FY25 amended line of roughly $701,789 and FY26 operating figures of about $805,000 for testing and education support).

Why education was discussed: Lawmakers asked about access and eligibility. The commissioner said all offenders remain eligible for educational and rehabilitative services unless restricted for behavioral reasons (segregation or other limitations), and that participation in pro‑social and vocational programs is associated with lower recidivism rates cited on a slide (educational program recidivism listed at about 20.9 percent in the department’s materials; vocational 13.6 percent and other program metrics were shown).

Committee follow‑up requests: Representatives asked how demand compared with capacity and whether the education and counselor pay proposals would improve recruitment. The department said counselor pay will be adjusted and said it would provide additional comparisons to K‑12 teacher pay and other agencies as requested by lawmakers.

Ending: The department said the educational investments are intended to increase capacity for a growing population and flagged that expanded program access depends on staffing and facility conditions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","01.07.25 Special Subcommittee of Appropriations on State Prisons","oneSentenceSummary","The governor’s recommended amended FY25 and FY26 budgets include funds to replace damaged Chromebooks used in educational programs and to increase GED testing capacity in response to a growing inmate population, the corrections commissioner said.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature Georgia , Georgia","taxId",77688,"location","Georgia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394624,"Corrections health care and plan for in‑house long‑term acute care cited as major driver of budget growth",226,3152000,3378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c&start=3152&end=3378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c/thumbnail_3152000.jpg","/articles/6394624/Georgia/Corrections-health-care-and-plan-for-inhouse-longterm-acute-care-cited-as-major-driver-of-budget-growth","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394624-c0d6c37a390b84b004ac26d1de9ebc06/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806339&Signature=GprqKsEP1b0bfVV~qaYCkfJoMaIXn4C6SDgQXTIPjjZvnusoVSSyTNZMMOrqkODAAY4GS8~zS6eAqdinv7e~2yBOvYT8AZpGhYzFlZ1DbvCxEDgudwUYcLdM3BGFFwhGroct7XU4uB8vvsDifRy-mQIVdxtQBuOFW7kpZMlTwQxKFD4AsUKj9p9DbQsT1LgHG95ra-PtBqkotHlmBx65zek8oksh9TJtEzn7cCRFED9jtTZDjnpzbs40wRbOrL-SqoOEupU6C0oqQEg2-I8jhUBHUEWkYPxxOGaGMNdz6LrmQvCILek5~zys-yNgIsPsQc1-935z-VrG3Eg9C7GuPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Tyrone Oliver and department health leaders told the appropriations subcommittee that increases in offender population and the costs of off‑site acute care are driving requests for additional health‑care funding.

The department said it transitioned physical‑health providers on July 1, 2024, and that despite that transition it is experiencing rising costs for physical health, pharmacy, mental health and dental services tied largely to population increases. \"GDC and Centurion have worked diligently to reduce hospital length of stay, reducing claims expense,\" the commissioner said, noting that claims expense growth can trigger a risk‑share mechanism in the vendor contract.

Key health‑care proposals:
- Electronic health records (EHR): The presentation showed a line item to support the department maintaining its own electronic health records to avoid future vendor lock‑in; the slide cited $15,000,000 in the amended FY25 line and a smaller FY26 figure shown on the slide (presentation text showed $146,000 for FY26 in that line item; the department said the funding would allow the state to maintain its own records and ease future transitions between health vendors).
- Long‑term acute care (LTAC) unit behind the wire: The department requested capital and operating funding to establish a long‑term acute‑care unit within state facilities, which it expects would reduce off‑site claims expense and the need to staff hospital posts; a FY26 slide cited $6.2 million (and related capital outlay references) as part of that plan. The department said it currently spends roughly $2,000 per day in claims for off‑site acute care and that about 20 patients are in LTAC settings on any given day.

Committee questions: Lawmakers asked how long inmates stay in LTAC and how many patients are currently in those settings; health leadership said stays vary widely (weeks to years), the longest current item cited was about three years and the daily census in LTAC settings was around 20 at the time of testimony. Committee members also requested an itemized per‑inmate per‑day breakdown of current contract spending and a clearer split between population‑driven costs and contractual increases.

Follow up: The department agreed to provide a more detailed breakdown of health‑care spending per inmate day and the projected savings timelines for bringing LTAC services behind the wire.","GDC officials told lawmakers that higher offender counts, hospital claims, pharmacy costs and long‑term acute care needs are increasing medical spending; the budget includes electronic health records and funding to bring long‑term acute care behind prison walls.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394630,"Budget request backs modular housing, lock replacements and major repairs to harden aging Georgia prisons",155,4125000,4280000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c&start=4125&end=4280","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c/thumbnail_4125000.jpg","/articles/6394630/Georgia/Budget-request-backs-modular-housing-lock-replacements-and-major-repairs-to-harden-aging-Georgia-prisons","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394630-cfa13415045929737b375aa78110cfcc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806339&Signature=mhqyrZYdOgh0AfrPcIn8nNCBy0QfJfWcvAfb23ELSFY5EjUdamvmdu6lGMYo48chQO126nLAVVCK~PNw73UEPmrLaROe4GWkLzIi0ffyFi~nKHJ34JtGnE3MHYgbXgc-xiTNmIkXDjsEx5wTmhKRoyO-3HPnFTH6xLjDQ6PmSAmZj66Za8ExScOP0NI1bxrCQ9Y3nuozOQrHc2Tgg1i4W9~3jKP20isBUrAIaSUvP660f5DIDlizqOQ7TteVMz~jHoW~B2nOcX4DbzRkenRBx6YCr0XC74-M9q9IqqAmS~4HIimqJYPbkYHDChY2Q533R~Vrmh96Xv7QEGiUlo8~AQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told the subcommittee the department needs investments in physical infrastructure to respond to a more violent offender population and to keep beds online while major projects are completed.

\"Offenders are able to compromise existing security systems and controls creating dangerous conditions for personnel and other offenders,\" the commissioner said, summarizing consultant recommendations and the governor’s budget requests.

Key infrastructure components presented:
- Modular high‑security housing: The request includes funding to procure four modular correctional modules (504 beds total), listed in the amended FY25 budget at about $93.2 million. The commissioner said the modules are double‑bunked units with poured concrete walls between modules and can remain on site for decades; they are intended as temporary surge capacity while lock and control system upgrades occur.
- Use of contracted/private beds: The department plans to utilize 446 contract beds at private facilities to free state beds for renovation; the slide cited amended FY25 funding at about $2.9 million and FY26 at $5.9 million to lease those beds.
- Lock and control modernization: The presentation proposed a multi‑year program to replace lock and control systems, including design funds at five facilities, construction at two facilities where design is complete, and staged replacements at three facilities. Slide figures included design/construction and backlog lines (examples: $34.2 million for design/construction items and $36.9 million to address backlog projects called out on slides; the commissioner also requested additional project managers and specialized contractor teams).
- Emergency repairs and maintenance workforce: The request includes funds for emergency repairs ($35 million cited on a slide), 10 additional project managers and a “tiger team” of skilled craftsmen to accelerate work.

Lawmakers’ questions and context: Committee members pressed the department on per‑bed costs for modular units (one member calculated roughly $185,000 per bed on the slide figures and noted single‑occupancy would raise that figure further). Department staff said modular units are built to a higher security standard than common modular homes, include poured concrete and can be moved if necessary; they also said modular units could be on site within about 12 months.

Process and timing: The department estimated lock and control replacements would take roughly five to six years to complete under the proposed funding and that modular units plus private beds would provide interim capacity to take buildings offline for repairs. Members asked for a consolidated plan and timeline showing project start and end dates and additional cost breakdowns; the department agreed to provide that information for follow-up review.

Ending: Members expressed support for expedited repairs and urged the department to provide a single consolidated project plan to help lawmakers weigh modular procurement versus additional private‑bed leases.","The governor’s proposals include modular high‑security housing units, lock and control system replacements, emergency maintenance contractors and use of private prison beds to allow renovation work, officials said at a joint appropriations hearing.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394634,"Budget includes expanded cell‑phone interdiction, drone detection and digital forensics to stem contraband in Georgia prisons",250,1940000,2190000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c&start=1940&end=2190","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c/thumbnail_1940000.jpg","/articles/6394634/Georgia/Budget-includes-expanded-cellphone-interdiction-drone-detection-and-digital-forensics-to-stem-contraband-in-Georgia-prisons","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394634-51b6cba20e09fcafba7dc1aaaf45b23f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806339&Signature=IkBoCQsXxraPalqBCsipIkGUqrfbYx9o8JSxhW6Cm-r5g7CbTYlxMRMrCKGg5uxa2q77PAr~dMQv2eck8yCX7nAF75tJvgSURPW8bBK5mS4Q0r1JcE4asWhxQZogq3EwYVgxH~72RhOHTE~Qp47KCF6~1MwYxuP41pyPZSWzbOjy7ylNtzMnY7ISgHuP9WKZnx6En6l574Y-KEnnrhsWT9x34Oq6W31z~W8uxbkI0sreeGovVLGSDD--VrX3XjwBZovOHadF4l4m0PtmMSBISrd~Ol~aMQH73boDZ1wvly7paSe~B4zmOyhwec5iRw4i9jMZOKlZKxCAOc7MHoHKbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Tyrone Oliver told the joint appropriations subcommittee that the governor’s budget includes technology and operational funding intended to reduce contraband — particularly cell phones and drones — which the department says enable in‑facility criminal activity.

\"The managed access system is all cell phone interdiction technology that we're utilizing,\" Commissioner Oliver said, describing the department’s plan to expand managed access coverage. He told members the request would fund managed access infrastructure and installation at 14 additional locations for a total of 27 facilities.

What the proposal covers: The department’s presentation listed multiple interdiction and investigative items:
- Managed access/cell‑phone interdiction: expand to a total of 27 sites (presentation cited a combined cost line item at about $34 million for managed access installations). The commissioner said current deployment is limited to a subset of sites (two facilities with the new vendor) and that the newer managed access systems are more effective than older systems.
- Drone detection: expand drone detection to two additional sites for a total of 25 systems (presentation figure cited about $966,000).
- Digital Forensic Unit: continued funding to process contraband phones and devices (the presentation cited $1.4 million to continue this unit and its investigations).
- Mail scanning (off‑site mail processing): implement an off‑site vendor to scan inmate mail before it enters facilities; the FY25 amended request included $900,000 with an annualized FY26 figure of $1.8 million listed in the slide deck.

Why it matters: Lawmakers pressed the department about effectiveness, deployment and interactions with other security upgrades. Representatives said small counties sometimes respond to drone incidents that target state prisons; several members urged an aggressive approach. Commissioner Oliver described managed access and newer vendor systems as “very sophisticated” and said testing showed improved interdiction compared with older systems.

Operational questions and clarifications: Committee members asked how the tablet program interfaces with interdiction goals (tablets run on a separate Wi‑Fi network, the commissioner said), and whether additional managed‑access coverage could be scaled fast enough. The department said it can provide more detailed operational outcomes and noted some technical details were withheld from public testimony for security reasons.

Remaining work: Members requested additional detail about current coverage, vendor capabilities, deployment timeframes and the precise breakdown of interdiction costs. The department agreed to supply additional information to the subcommittee for follow-up review.","The governor’s proposals would expand managed-access cell-phone interdiction, add drone detection systems, and fund a digital forensic unit and mail-scanning to reduce contraband and illicit communications, the corrections commissioner told lawmakers.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6394638,"Governor’s prison budget proposal funds raises, targeted hires to address Georgia Department of Corrections staffing shortfall",272,1365000,1637000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c&start=1365&end=1637","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2102710-6229cd7a3ce9329958d6841830f25e9c/thumbnail_1365000.jpg","/articles/6394638/Georgia/Governors-prison-budget-proposal-funds-raises-targeted-hires-to-address-Georgia-Department-of-Corrections-staffing-shortfall","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6394638-a875fd2accba6ec88a7b83bc40ab0ae4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770806339&Signature=d6AxvNkTO-s2x4ucudhnhIJU2HAORxo6v7xJkBc6Kb1Y6rsscRcZPQXMDHDQ2ZazRS9qO6Z52p8Yc14HqbIo5gHhLtim35phKNQdq7G9dni47Knn~F4zWwVUH1nybOiKUZg9~~dD0UZNrwjrUhFczQcJnrHbsg5H5DbETh-OYVpyaspQqjiWFb2DXBVOhBqKQne7NZNyNrztqM2u4Sn2B47quQoHr77~geFyyqjwLG5gtkstpVUK0~MC-lCwSqYX7gFtnfDEY4t2ebVzqd9plEw7dKPurc2J7ebMORQd1jhW9QuDxIG9HxIAFMHSBM~bemkVfqVWNFtUM4MC2OE~kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioner Tyrone Oliver, head of the Georgia Department of Corrections, told the House joint appropriations subcommittee on prisons that the governor’s amended FY25 and FY26 recommendations include targeted salary increases and new hires to reduce a large vacancy gap among correctional staff.

The plan would fund a phased increase in correctional officer (CO) staffing and pay changes the department says are necessary to improve safety and retention. \"The near term challenges evolve around two primary areas, staffing for security and non security staff and aligning facility infrastructure with offender security needs,\" Commissioner Oliver said during the presentation.

Why it matters: Subcommittee members repeatedly linked staffing levels to facility safety and to the ability to deliver services inside prisons. Committee members pressed the department for details about how many current vacancies are funded and how many are unfunded, and they asked whether the proposed hires are realistic given national recruitment challenges.

What the proposal would do: The governor’s recommendations explained by the commissioner include (numbers and schedule presented by the department):
- Funding to add 882 CO positions in a phased approach (roughly 110 per quarter) and a separate request to fund additional open slots the department lists as 26,100 total open positions (the presentation said only the 882 are newly funded in the immediate request).
- A 4% across‑the‑board salary increase for all correctional officers proposed for FY26 (the department estimated a FY26 cost of about $9.6 million for that increase) and salary schedule adjustments to provide regular career-path promotions.
- Nonsecurity staff pay increases, including an 8% raise for behavioral health counselors and 4% raises for educational, chaplain, food-service and maintenance positions, intended to improve recruitment and retention in those roles.

Discussion and concerns: Committee members asked for clarity about how many of the 26,100 open CO positions are currently funded. Commissioner Oliver said the department can provide that breakdown to the subcommittee. Members also questioned whether asking to hire large numbers quickly is realistic; the commissioner replied the 882 positions are the near-term funded hire and that larger fills would be phased over future budgets.

Recruitment and retention measures: The budget request includes funds for a centralized statewide recruitment effort ($2.8 million cited in the presentation) and investments to reduce onboarding delays (background checks and processing) and to modernize training—such as simulator expansions—to improve retention.

What remains unresolved: The department said it will provide specific counts of funded vs. unfunded vacancies and requested parity analyses (for example, how behavioral health counselor pay compares with similar state agencies). Committee chairs asked the department to return with additional detail so lawmakers can judge whether the proposed pace and dollar amounts will close the staffing gap.

Ending note: Members praised the department for bringing forward recommendations early and stressed that any final funding decisions will depend on additional data the department agreed to supply to the subcommittee.","The governor’s amended FY25 and FY26 recommendations include pay increases, a phased hiring plan for correctional officers and non-security staff, and centralized recruitment efforts aimed at reducing turnover and improving safety within Georgia state prisons, department officials told a joint appropriations subcommittee.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget would replace classroom Chromebooks and expand GED testing in Georgia prisons

Corrections health care and plan for in‑house long‑term acute care cited as major driver of budget growth

Budget request backs modular housing, lock replacements and major repairs to harden aging Georgia prisons

Budget includes expanded cell‑phone interdiction, drone detection and digital forensics to stem contraband in Georgia prisons

Governor’s prison budget proposal funds raises, targeted hires to address Georgia Department of Corrections staffing shortfall