Proposed public safety budget has hike for prisons, pays for hazardous material center

Highlights of the $378.4 million earmarked for public safety in Gov. Kenny Guinn's proposed budget:

-PRISONS: Earmarks $312.4 million for the state's prisons system, an increase of $41.4 million, or a 15 percent rise.

-MOTHBALLED PRISON: The Southern Nevada Correctional Center at Jean would be mothballed and 159 employees would be laid off. Most employees could shift to the expanding Cold Creek Correctional Center, also in Southern Nevada.

-PRIVATIZATION: Privatize medical services throughout the prison system, eliminating 320 medical positions and saving about $4 million over two years.

-COLD CREEK: The new prison would be budgeted for $21.8 million. The plan is for a 3,000 bed facility when completed, and the first phase should be completed in June 2000.

-PAROLE-PROBATION: The state Department of Parole and Probation gets $50.5 million, $10 million or 25 percent from the current budget.

-HAZARDOUS MATERIALS: Earmarks $132,803 for a hazardous materials training center, funding with state money for the first time.

-FIRE MARSHAL: Cuts the state fire marshal's share of general funds from $466,063 to $2,000, but federal funding increases by $735,815, bringing the total budget to more than $2.6 million.

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