(Pierre, SD) — South Dakota lawmakers now have the exact bill they’ll vote on for a new state men’s prison when they return for a special session on September 23rd. Yesterday, Governor Rhoden released draft legislation that lines up with recommendations from his Prison Reset task force. The two-page proposal calls for building the new men’s prison at the Benson Road site in Sioux Falls, caps costs at 650-million dollars, and finalizes the land swap from the old Lincoln County site. It also makes clear the prison won’t be used for federal immigration detention. Some lawmakers say they still want to see the guaranteed maximum price before voting, while others say it’s time to move forward and get the prison built.
