Corrections commissioner cites 50% vacancy rate, $10,000 sign-on bonus and academy recruiting as steps to reduce overtime; committee approves initial funding

Commissioner Hart described the Department of Correctionss staffing pressures and the need to address overtime spending, telling the committee the department is at about a 50% vacancy rate for corrections officers. "We do. We're at approximately 50% across the department in terms of corrections officers," the commissioner said, explaining that overtime is typically for an 8-hour full shift rather than routine 12-hour shifts.

Hart outlined recruitment efforts: a "blitz" campaign that produced 160 interested applicants and an academy class of 12 scheduled to graduate next week, plans for two additional blitzes, targeted demographic advertising (including outreach to people with military or law-enforcement backgrounds), and procedural changes to allow officers trained in other states to convert via a law-package pathway. He also confirmed a $10,000 sign-on bonus paid after academy completion with a one-year service obligation; the department expected to begin disbursing some bonuses the week after the meeting (fewer than 10 expected initially).

Senator Grama summarized prior conversations with the governors office and noted prior requests for larger sums (discussed requests of $15 million and $20'1 million). The senator said he supported an initial, smaller late item to get the department started and to ask for a progress update at the June meeting. The committee approved the late item (26080) by voice vote.