Subcommittee adopts H1 substitute for corrections budget; members voice safety and community-program funding concerns

The Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary voted 4–1 to adopt the H1 substitute for House Bill 5599, the department of corrections budget, advancing the measure to the House Appropriations Committee.

Chair Slaw opened the presentation of the corrections budget and said the house substitute totals roughly $2.12 billion gross. He highlighted additions and reductions in the substitute, including $39.5 million in general fund–general purpose (GFGP) for deferred maintenance at state correctional facilities, $1.9 million GFGP to automate prisoner counting, roughly $35.7 million gross for economic adjustments and a reported reduction of about 455 FTEs and approximately $79.6 million GFGP in savings across line items. The substitute also reflects a 50% reduction to information-technology project funding and eliminates $14.2 million in community-corrections line items.

Representative O'Neal objected to several of the cuts, saying the savings come while the department is already short of correctional officers and staff. "We're 900 plus short of staff in our institutions around the state of Michigan," O'Neal said, arguing the proposed 455-person reduction risks staff safety and increases overtime burdens. He also criticized a 50% reduction to IT and the removal of previously included intent language on reforming strip-search protocol, calling the combination of changes "counterintuitive" to contraband-prevention and dignity concerns.

Chair Slaw responded that many of the 455 positions are currently unfilled and that roughly 1,300 FTE vacancies remain statewide; the substitute therefore pares back unfilled slots rather than reflecting immediate layoffs. On the IT reduction, he said the level reflected a broader budget approach used across multiple proposals. He also noted counties retain some federal and local funding sources that can support certain community corrections functions despite the line-item reductions.

The committee then took formal action. Representative Bon moved to adopt the H1 substitute for House Bill 5599. The clerk recorded votes as follows: Chair Slaw — yes; Representative Markin — yes; Representative Bon — yes; Representative Cavitt — yes; Representative O'Neal — no. The substitute passed and was reported to the House Appropriations Committee as H1.

What the bill does not change is the subcommittee's stated emphasis on deferred-maintenance funding and uniform contraband-prevention policies; the substitute adds boilerplate language requiring the Department of Corrections to develop standardized contraband-prevention policies, and it removes a previous intent clause on strip-search reform. The substitute also includes a provision directing agencies to implement 12‑hour shifts in correctional facilities in coordination with employee groups and the Office of State Employer.

The subcommittee adjourned after the vote. The substitute will proceed to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration.