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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Thursday approved a bipartisan proposal that would provide a standardized process on how public safety facilities, including state prisons and state police barracks, are closed in the future.</p><p>Senators John Yudichak, D-Nanticoke, Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, David G. Argall (R-29), Michele Brooks (R-50), and Wayne Fontana (D-42) sponsored Senate Bill 748 &#8212; which would establish the Public Safety Facilities Act &#8212; in response to recent state prison closures over the last few years that were undertaken with little or no input from the communities that were affected.</p><p>In 2015, Governor Tom Corbett and Secretary John Wetzel closed two state prisons, SCI Cresson and SCI Greensburg.</p><p>In 2017, the Wolf Administration sought to close down at least one state prison out of a potential five prisons from communities across the state, including SCI Frackville, SCI Mercer, SCI Pittsburgh, SCI Retreat and SCI Waymart.</p><p>In the end, only SCI Pittsburgh was closed.</p><p>The five legislators convened a bipartisan hearing on Jan. 23, 2017, to learn about the process of how a state prison is closed, noting the shock to the communities that were notified in the 11th hour of a possible closure.</p><p><strong>Bill&#8217;s intent</strong></p><p>&#8220;We worked together in a bipartisan way to ensure that any future decision when it comes to potentially closing state prisons or state police barracks goes through a process that is open and transparent,&#8221; the senators said in a news release. &#8220;These institutions provide jobs to the community that are vital to local economies. Many communities embraced the placement of a state prison and it is troubling that these decisions that affect the lives of hundreds of Pennsylvanians can be made overnight. Senate Bill 748 will make it a deliberate process if the state chooses to close down any more facilities.&#8221;</p><p>The bill would require the state to notify state and local stakeholders, including local lawmakers, within three months of a planned facility closure, as well as thoroughly review any local implications of the planned closure.</p><p>The agency seeking to close the facility must also hold a public hearing in the county where the facility is located and provide a written report detailing the recommendations to the governor and leaders in the General Assembly.</p><p>&#8220;Transparency is key and this bill will ensure there is a better process moving forward,&#8221; they senators added. &#8220;We are grateful for the input and support of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, who represent the thousands of state corrections officers at our 24 state prisons.&#8221;</p><p>The legislation will head to the Senate for a concurrence vote then to Gov. Wolf for his signature.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Sen. John Yudichak and Sen. Lisa Baker discuss the decision to keep SCI-Retreat open in January, 2017. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_TTL012717Prison-close2CMYK-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Sen. John Yudichak and Sen. Lisa Baker discuss the decision to keep SCI-Retreat open in January, 2017. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Yudichak, Baker support bill on prison closure procedure