Language requiring state corrections officials to investigate the cost of reopening an empty Appleton prison has been included in the omnibus judiciary and public safety conference committee report. The push for the language, which differs slightly from what had been considered earlier in the session, was led by Sen. Andrew Lang (R-Olivia), and directs state officials to seek an appraisal of the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton before expanding or adding any bed capacity at its existing correctional facilities.

“This legislation will keep the Appleton prison in front of our state officials should a need for additional bed space arise,” said Sen. Lang. “As a state, we need to be looking at all available options for easing the burden on our corrections system and putting people back to work. That, coupled with the enormous cost savings to the state and the economic value to the area, makes this an easy decision. I am hopeful we can work with state officials to find a way to move forward in this area.”

The conference committee report, which serves as the final negotiations for the state’s two-year judiciary and public safety budget, prevents state officials from expanding bed capacity or building any new facilities without first submitting an appraisal for the Appleton prison’s market value to the legislature. The legislation has the support of officials in Swift County, which lost over 350 jobs and saw its unemployment rate spike to one of the highest in the state following the prison’s closing.

Sen. Lang is serving his first term representing Senate District 17, which includes communities in Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Renville, and Swift counties in west central Minnesota.