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HSB 111

A bill for an act relating to the duties of the director of the department of corrections, the board of corrections, superintendents, and district directors.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Shifts DOC leadership appointments from the Board to the director (with board input), speeding appointments and reshaping removal procedures.

Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 398.
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Bill Summary · HSB 111

Summary: HSB 111 (Renumbered HF 398)

A bill addressing the duties and appointment/removal processes within the Department of Corrections (DOC), the Board of Corrections, and district leadership structures. It proposes shifting some appointment authority from the board to the director (subject to board input) and overhauls certain due-process requirements for the removal of superintendents. It also creates a dedicated capital reinvestment funding mechanism tied to real estate transactions.

Purpose and intent

  • Clarify and reorganize the appointment authority for DOC institution superintendents and district directors.
  • Increase the director’s direct appointment role while preserving advisory input from the Board of Corrections.
  • streamline removal procedures for superintendents by reducing or eliminating certain required due-process steps.
  • Establish a dedicated capital reinvestment fund tied to real estate transactions to finance future capital improvements and acquisitions.

Key provisions

Appointments and board involvement

  • The director of the Department of Corrections shall appoint, subject to the advice and recommendations of the Board of Corrections:
    • The superintendents of DOC institutions.
    • A district director for each district department.
  • Current law requires board approval for these appointments; the bill shifts emphasis toward director-led appointments with board input.

Removal of superintendents

  • The bill removes the current requirement that removal of a superintendent affords the individual an opportunity to be heard before the board and the director, based on preferred written charges.
  • This change reduces a formal due-process hurdle in superintendent removals.

Real estate and capital reinvestment fund

  • Real estate owned by the department may be acquired or sold upon terms and conditions recommended by the director and approved by the board.
  • Proceeds from the sale of real estate are deposited into a Corrections Capital Reinvestment Fund, established in the state treasury under the department’s purview.
  • The fund may be used to purchase other real estate or for capital improvements on property under the director’s supervision.
  • Unencumbered or unobligated fund balances at the close of a fiscal year do not revert; they remain available for designated purposes.
  • Interest or earnings on fund balances are credited to the fund (despite otherwise applicable statutory provisions).

Administrative alignment with current law

  • The bill includes “notwithstanding” clauses to ensure the fund’s operations and interest treatment are explicitly maintained outside certain standard revenue/appropriation rules.

Affected entities and individuals

  • Department of Corrections and its institutions (superintendents and personnel at facilities)
  • Board of Corrections
  • District directors and district-level department operations
  • State treasury and the Corrections Capital Reinvestment Fund (for capital projects and real estate activities)

Timeline and procedural context

  • Introduced: January 30, 2025 (Referred to State Government)
  • Subcommittee: January 30, 2025 meeting noted; subsequent action on February 3, 2025
  • Subcommittee action: February 6, 2025 (recommended amendment and passage)
  • Committee action: February 12–13, 2025
    • Substantive committee vote: Yeas 16, Nays 7 (February 12)
    • Committee report recommending amendment and passage (February 12)
    • Committee report approving bill, renumbered as HF 398 (February 13)
  • Status: Committee report approving bill; renumbered as HF 398

Potential impact

  • Governance: Elevates the director’s appointment authority for key DOC leadership positions, with board input, potentially speeding leadership appointments.
  • Due process: Reduces formal hearing requirements for superintendent removals, which could shorten removal proceedings and alter protections for superintendents.
  • Capital management: Creates a dedicated capital reinvestment fund tied to real estate transactions, potentially increasing the DOC’s ability to fund acquisitions and capital improvements without relying on general appropriations.
  • Fiscal management: Funds generated from real estate sales would be ring-fenced for capital purposes, with ongoing interest credited to the fund and remaining balances carried forward.

Note

This bill reflects specific statutory changes and is subject to further amendments during the legislative process. HF 398 is the renumbered version of the introduced HSB 111.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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