summary
Introduced
02/04/2026
02/04/2026
In Committee
02/11/2026
02/11/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amend KRS 441.005 to define "restricted custody center" and make technical changes; create new sections of KRS Chapter 441 to require the Department of Corrections to promulgate administrative regulations providing the minimum standards for holdover facilities; require the Department of Corrections to contract with a fiscal court of a county or local or regional correctional authority to provide correctional services to state prisoners; allow prisoners being held for a nonviolent or nonsexual misdemeanor conviction to be housed in a restricted custody center; require jailers to get permission from the Department of Corrections before transferring a Class C or Class D felon to another jail unless required by statute or an emergency exists; establish the regional jail authority construction fund, and establish requirements for the Department of Corrections to submit a list of regional jail construction projects to the Legislative Research Commission; establish the regional jail conversion fund and establish requirements for receiving grant funds; amend KRS 431.215 to require the Commonwealth to pay a county a fee per day based on the county's actual costs to house prisoners for the time the prisoner was held before a conviction if the sentence the prisoner receives in whole or in part includes the amount of time served prior to judgment; amend KRS 441.025 to allow counties to contract with the Department of Corrections to house state prisoners and operate holdover facilities; amend KRS 441.045 to require the Commonwealth to pay counties for the costs of providing health services to prisoners the county is responsible for; amend KRS 441.420 to require the Department of Corrections to pay for architectural plans and engineering services associated with any tentatively approved construction of a local correctional facility; amend KRS 441.430 to allow a regional jail authority to receive tentative approval for new regional jail construction; amend KRS 441.520 to specify the rate that a jail that receives a transferred inmate can charge the originating jail; amend KRS 441.810 to require that the jailer of each county within a regional jail authority be a member of the board; amend various sections to conform.
AI Summary
This bill aims to reform correctional services by defining "restricted custody center" as a facility for sentenced or pretrial prisoners approved for educational, work, or program release, and establishing minimum standards for "holdover facilities" (detention facilities for up to 96 hours) through administrative regulations by the Department of Corrections (DOC). It mandates the DOC to contract with counties or regional jail authorities for correctional services for state prisoners, with contracts not exceeding 24 months and requiring the state to cover costs beyond routine medical care for these prisoners. The bill allows prisoners convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual misdemeanors to be housed in restricted custody centers and requires jailers to obtain DOC permission before transferring Class C or D felons to other jails, except in emergencies. It also establishes a regional jail authority construction fund and a regional jail conversion fund to provide grants for jail construction and conversion projects, and requires the Commonwealth to pay counties for the actual costs of housing prisoners held before conviction if their sentence includes pre-judgment time served. Additionally, the bill mandates the Commonwealth to pay counties for health services provided to prisoners they are responsible for, and the DOC to cover architectural and engineering costs for approved local correctional facility construction. It also allows regional jail authorities to receive tentative approval for new construction and specifies the rates that receiving jails can charge originating jails for transferred inmates, while ensuring that the jailer of each county within a regional jail authority is a board member.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (52)
Michael Meredith (R)*,
Ryan Bivens (R),
John Blanton (R),
Steve Bratcher (R),
Randy Bridges (R),
Emily Callaway (R),
Josh Calloway (R),
Mike Clines (R),
Myron Dossett (R),
Ryan Dotson (R),
Robert Duvall (R),
Daniel Elliott (R),
Patrick Flannery (R),
Deanna Frazier Gordon (R),
Chris Freeland (R),
Chris Fugate (R),
Al Gentry (D),
Jim Gooch (R),
Peyton Griffee (R),
Vanessa Grossl (R),
David Hale (R),
Tony Hampton (R),
Mark Hart (R),
Samara Heavrin (R),
Kimberly Holloway (R),
Thomas Huff (R),
Mary Beth Imes (R),
Kevin Jackson (R),
D.J. Johnson (R),
William Lawrence (R),
Savannah Maddox (R),
Candy Massaroni (R),
Bobby McCool (R),
Shawn McPherson (R),
Suzanne Miles (R),
Amy Neighbors (R),
Jason Nemes (R),
Sarge Pollock (R),
Rebecca Raymer (R),
Steve Riley (R),
Rachel Roarx (D),
Scott Sharp (R),
Tom Smith (R),
Nancy Tate (R),
Walker Thomas (R),
Aaron Thompson (R),
Timmy Truett (R),
Mitchum Whitaker (R),
Richard White (R),
Wade Williams (R),
Nick Wilson (R),
Susan Witten (R),
Last Action
to Appropriations & Revenue (H) (on 02/11/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb557.html |
| Fiscal Note for HB557 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb557/FN.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb557/orig_bill.pdf |
| Corrections Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb557/CI.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb557/LM.pdf |
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