Sec. 19. (a) In addition to any other requirements and except as provided in subsection (b), after June 30, 2018, a county may not begin the construction or reconstruction of a county jail or submit final plans and specifications for the construction or reconstruction of a county jail to the department of correction under IC 11-12-4-5, unless the county executive first:

(1) prepares or causes to be prepared a feasibility study of possible alternatives to the construction or reconstruction of the county jail; and

(2) holds a public hearing on the feasibility study.

     (b) The feasibility study and public hearing under subsection (a) are not required for the construction or reconstruction of a county jail in the case of a county in which the county executive before July 1, 2018, has voted on or otherwise approved a proposal or contract concerning the construction or reconstruction of the county jail.

     (c) The feasibility study required by subsection (a)(1) must include the following information:

(1) The feasibility of housing inmates in the county jail of another county or in a multicounty jail established by two (2) or more counties.

(2) A projection of the county’s future jail needs and an estimate of the number and characteristics of future inmates.

(3) An estimate of the costs, tax rates, and debt service amounts that would result from each of the alternatives addressed by the feasibility study.

     (d) The county executive shall allow the public to testify at the public hearing on the feasibility study required by subsection (a)(1). Notice of the public hearing must be given in accordance with IC 5-3-1. The notice must state that on the given day, time, and place, the county executive will meet to discuss the feasibility study and hear testimony from the public regarding the feasibility study.

As added by P.L.184-2018, SEC.13.