Gov. Larry Rhoden wants a ‘reset’ on the proposed men’s prison project.
Rhoden signed an executive order to form a task force on Thursday morning. The group is comprised of lawmakers and stakeholders to find a path forward on a prison this year.
The roughly 20-member group that will meet four times starting in April. It will consider how big a new men’s prison should be and where should it be located.
Rhoden said he hopes buy-in from the group will lead to legislative support for a project.
“We’re being as palms up and transparent to make this as sound a process and as bulletproof a process from a perception standpoint as it can possibly be," Rhoden said on Thursday.
This week, it became clear the administration did not have legislative support to move the $825 million, 1,500-bed project in Lincoln County forward.
The working group includes skeptics of the original project idea, including Republican Representative Karla Lems, who represents Lincoln County where the new prison was proposed.
“This is going to hopefully be a way to look at a plan b, c and d, and see which one of these is going to fit with that we believe the state is really going to need," Lems said. "With that, also, obviously we have to look at location, but we have to get a concept first.”
The working group will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Tony Venhuizen. It will also have law enforcement, mental health officials and Attorney General Marty Jackley.
Erin Healy, D-Sioux Falls, is also in the group. She said the state also needs to expand mental health and substance abuse services.
“So we can address this issue before people have to deal with punishment," Healey said.
Officials anticipate the working group will meet in Pierre and the Sioux Falls area. The working group is directed to make recommendations and propose legislation for a special session in July.
