Committee advances bill to let infants live with incarcerated mothers in Heart River Correctional Centre nursery
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Summary
The Senate subcommittee gave a due‑pass recommendation to a bill authorizing mothers at the Heart River Correctional Centre to reside with their children for up to 18 months in a planned four‑apartment nursery; sponsors and agencies said the program aims to strengthen bonding, reduce foster‑care costs and lower recidivism trends.
The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division voted a due‑pass recommendation for Senate Bill 2,352, which would authorize children to reside with their incarcerated mothers at the Heart River Correctional Centre in designated nursery apartments for up to 18 months.
Cheryl Thomas, women’s services manager for the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR), told senators the $100,000 fiscal note attached to the bill covers initial supplies and start‑up items such as diapers and furniture; she said some supplies could come from donations and federal grants. Thomas said the program’s intent is to normalize parenting responsibilities for mothers while protecting child safety and to reduce future foster‑care placements.
"We do feel at the DOCR this is a very important bill to ultimately maintain and foster that modeling and relationships and ultimately growing those stronger bonds between moms and babies," Thomas said. She outlined proposed screening, application and supervision elements, and said the new women’s facility would include four apartments intended for nursery use.
Senators discussed liability, eligibility, the age cutoff and the practical operations of a nursery in a corrections setting. Witnesses and legislators cited research supporting mother–infant bonding and noted other states operate similar programs; Thomas said Missouri recently opened a nursery and New York operates a long‑standing program that began in 1901.
Senator Mather moved a due‑pass recommendation and Senator Cleary seconded. The clerk called the roll. Recorded yes votes during the roll call included Senator Clary, Senator Deaver, Senator Makram and Senator Mather; the chair announced the motion carried and the bill will be reported out with a due‑pass recommendation.
Committee testimony estimated the initial fiscal placeholder at $100,000 and noted potential ongoing costs would be included in future DOCR budget requests; DOCR testimony also projected lower long‑term child welfare costs relative to foster care if children remain with their mothers in a supervised program.