A. Any county or combination of counties by resolution of their governing boards, may jointly create a regional jail district pursuant to the provisions of Section 176 of Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes for the purpose of planning, financing, construction, maintenance and operation of a jail located within the boundaries of such counties. A regional jail district created pursuant to the provisions of this subsection shall have the powers granted pursuant to the provisions of Section 176 of Title 60 of the Oklahoma Statutes in addition to the powers granted pursuant to the provisions of this act except that no district created pursuant to the provisions of this act shall have any power or authority to exercise or to attempt to exercise any powers of eminent domain. The county or combination of counties, or their agencies, creating the regional jail district shall be designated the beneficiary of the district. The boundaries of the regional jail district shall be coterminous with the boundaries of the county or counties creating the district.

B. The board of county commissioners of each county desiring to join the regional jail district shall approve a resolution to join the district and shall approve an agreement which specifies the duties of each county within the regional jail district. If any county wishes to join a regional jail district which has already been established pursuant to this section, the agreement shall be rewritten and approved by each member county.

C. The agreement which specifies the duties of each county within the regional jail district shall contain the following:

1. The name of the regional jail district;

2. The names of the counties within the regional jail district;

3. The formula for calculating the contribution of each county to the costs of the regional jail district;

4. The types of prisoners which the regional jail may house, limited to prisoners which may be transferred to counties under state law;

5. The methods and powers which may be used for planning, constructing, financing or maintaining a regional jail;

6. The duties of the director of the regional jail; and

7. The timing and procedures for approval of the annual budget of the regional jail district by the regional jail commission.

D. Any county, city or town may contract with a regional jail commission for the purposes of holding prisoners.

E. A regional jail district created pursuant to this section shall exist for the duration of the operation of the regional jail and no longer than one (1) year after cessation of operation of the regional jail.

Added by Laws 2012, c. 20, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2012.