Joint state-county work programs; require DOC to utilize under certain circumstances.

HB 26 requires Mississippi's Department of Corrections to ensure at least 10% of eligible incarcerated individuals participate in joint state-county work programs before housing offenders in private correctional facilities. This means the Commissioner of Corrections cannot use private facilities for inmate housing unless these programs are active and meet the 10% participation threshold. The bill amends several sections of Mississippi law to implement this requirement, including provisions about contracts between the state and counties for these work programs. The bill directly affects the Department of Corrections' inmate placement decisions and private correctional facility contracts.