Nevada Department of Corrections wants $1.5 million for medical care, staffing
CARSON CITY — The Nevada Department of Corrections is requesting $1.25 million from a contingency fund to cover a budgeting shortfall for inmate medical care and to staff an additional unit at a Southern Nevada women’s prison.
The state Board of Examiners, chaired by Gov. Brian Sandoval, will consider the funding requests when it meets Tuesday in Carson City. Also on the agenda for approval is a nearly $400,000 contract to certify kosher meals for Nevada inmates.
Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske serve on the board with the governor.
The Department of Corrections wants $708,645 from the Legislature’s Interim Finance Contingency Account “to cover inmate medical treatment obligations” through this fiscal year, which ends June 30. Background materials for the agenda do not explain the cause of the shortfall.
Another $542,287 from the contingency fund is requested to staff an additional housing unit at Florence McClure Women’s Correctional Center in fiscal year 2017 that begins July 1.
Both expenditures also require approval by the Legislature’s Interim Finance Committee.
The Board of Examiners, which also includes Attorney General Adam Laxalt and Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, also will consider a contract with Scroll K. Vaad Hakashrus of Denver to certify kosher food for inmates of the Jewish and other faiths that have strict dietary and food preparation requirements.
Nevada has used the nonprofit rabbinical organization since 2013 to implement kosher kitchens and oversee procedures following a federal court lawsuit filed in 2011.
“As a result of a court case involving inmates being provided certified kosher food for religious purposes, the department made a decision on good faith to proactively implement kosher kitchens in various institutions, and employ a court-recommended rabbinic food certifying organization to provide the inmates with a degree or confidence in the kosher food being served to department inmates,” the agency said in a contract summary provided to the board.
If approved Tuesday, the $393,824 contract would run through June 30, 2020.
Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-461-3821. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb
