Alabama Senate Committee approves $775 million prison construction proposal

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Following weeks of back and forth, the Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee approved a revised prison construction plan on Thursday.

The plan — to authorize a $775 million issue to build three “super-prisons” and would renovate Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women —  was approved by voice vote and now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

The original plan proposed by Gov. Robert Bentley was to authorize an $800 million bond issue to build four large regional prisons and close 14 existing prisons. In Bentley’s proposal, the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women would have also been replaced.

Alabaster-Republican state Sen. Cam Ward says the bill may be considered by the full Senate as early as next week.