Prison Healthcare Expenses and Budget
| Submitted | Aug. 18, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: COVID Prison Project
Holly Lyons, Division Director Fiscal Services
1007 E Grand Ave #303
Des Moines, IA 50319
Phone: 515.281.7845
Fax: 515.281.8027
holly.lyons@legis.iowa.gov
To Holly Lyons:
Under the Iowa Open Records Law § 22.1 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of the following public records:
• Active contracts with third-party vendors exceeding $50,000 for medical services that are provided to individuals in the custody of the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC)
• Proposed contracts with third-party vendors exceeding $50,000 for medical services that are provided to individuals in the custody of the IDOC
• The enacted IDOC budget for fiscal year 2021
• A list of all medical institutions external to the IDOC which provide inpatient and outpatient services to the individuals in IDOC custody
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filed electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not. However, we respectfully request a waiver of these fees as we are affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use.
The Iowa Open Records Law requires a response time within ten to twenty business days. If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than that time period, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.
If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.
Sincerely,
Forrest Behne
COVID Prison Project
Office: (919) 391-7962
340 MacNider Hall | Campus Box 7240
333 South Columbia Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240
From: Iowa Division Of Fiscal Services
Mr. Behne:
I am the Director of the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency, a non-partisan agency of the Iowa Legislature. I do not work for the Department of Corrections (IDOC)and that department would be the custodian of the documents you are requesting relating to the contracts with third party vendors, as well as the list of medical institutions external to the IDOC which provide inpatient and outpatient services to the individuals in IDOC custody. I can however provide you with a copy of the enacted IDOC budget for fiscal year 2021 (the year just completed).
Documents related to that budget can be found at the following links:
The enacted budget for FY 2021. Due to the pandemic and the interruption of the 2020 Legislative Session, the Legislative passed status quo budgets for FY 2021, basically the same appropriations the agencies received for FY 2020. On page 13 of this document (https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1138047.pdf), you will find a table of the amounts appropriated to the Department of Corrections for FY 2021. For language attached to those appropriations, you will need to refer to the appropriations bill passed by the Legislature for the Justice System during the 2019 Session (FY 2020 budget). That document is located here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/NOBA/1046109.pdf .
Monthly IDOC reports on financial status. The Department of Corrections also submits monthly reports on financial status to the Legislature. These reports are posted on the Legislative website here: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/meetings/documents?committee=678&ga=89
Please note that these reports are prepared by the Department of Corrections and not the Legislative Services Agency. To date, the June 2021 report has not been received.
For the remainder of your request, I would refer you to the Iowa Department of Corrections.
Sincerely,
Holly M. Lyons
Fiscal Services Division Director
Legislative Services Agency
From: COVID Prison Project
Ms. Lyons,
Thank you for your quick and considerate reply. We are grateful for your assistance.
Warmest regards,
Forrest Behne
COVID Prison Project
Office: (919) 391-7962
340 MacNider Hall | Campus Box 7240
333 South Columbia Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7240
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