Repairs, new security materials, official vehicles and other safety equipment are what some senators on the session floor said the Department of Corrections needs now. 

“We need to ensure their safety as well. And that’s today. We can’t wait until a new facility is built up,” said Sen. Telo Taitague. 

During the session Wednesday, Sen. Telo Taitague expressed support for Bill 368.

It would reallocate $5 million already designated for the construction of a new prison to instead be spent on critical items DEPCOR needs.

“I support this bill. I don’t have a major problem because it's the current situation we are in and the safety and well-being of not only our prisoners, but most especially of the employees at the DOC,” said Taitague. 

But some were hesitant about the intent of the bill to include Public Safety Oversight Chair Sen. Chris Barnett. 

“I just worry that by providing this immediate help to the DOC that we are jeopardizing the long-term solution that our island so desperately needs, and that is, of course, the construction of a new DOC,” said Barnett. 

“I think it's a fairly reasonable proposal,” said Sen. Joanne Brown. “I’m unsettled in the decision that we should go ahead and transfer this money for current operations when they’ve already begun the process.”

“What impact will this have on the A&E that’s out to bid? Will it stop it? Will it delay it? Will we have to start from scratch? This is exactly what happened with Simon Sanchez [High School],” said Spkr. Therese Terlaje. 

Lawmakers concerned over Director Fred Bordallo failure to provide them a definitive list of the prison's needs ahead of the discussion. 

“As the oversight chair of the DOC, I have banged my head on the table. I have begged the director to be forthright, to be transparent about his needs in their budget hearing. Basically, we weren’t told,” said Barnett. 

“We’re dealing with an unknown description of repairs and an unknown amount of repairs. That’s where we end up with the allegations from other people that this money might be spent on cars and things that are really not capital improvements,” added Terlaje. 

Bill author Sen. Dwayne San Nicolas offered a compromise.

“This is an amendment to reduce it from five million [dollars] to one million [dollars],” said San Nicolas. 

“We talk about the safety concerns of those hard working individuals at DOC, as well as detainees and prisoners there. It's a human thing that we are responsible for,” said Taitague. 

Still, senators ended up calling DEPCOR leaders to the legislature in hopes to get more answers. 

During the committee of the whole this afternoon, senators heard Director Bordallo's justification of DEPCOR’s financial needs.

The list of needs includes personal hygiene supplies, medical care for inmates, air conditioner and generator repair and replacement, and an improved CCTV system.