The Illinois House Thursday passed a bill to allow Hardin County to buy the shuttered Hardin County Work Camp facility from the State of Illinois for one dollar.
The bill's chief sponsor in the House - Democratic Representative Natalie Phelps-Finnie - says the county will utilize the facility for a new jail that could house up to 100 inmates.
Senator Dale Fowler sponsored it in his chamber. The Harrisburg republican says it will be a boost to the local economy.
"Create the Tri-County Detention Center that they've been working on. That's going to create 30 or 40 really nice, good-paying jobs. To be able to get that facility opened back up, that's exciting."
The measure had a first reading Thursday in the Senate.
Governor Bruce Rauner's administration began shutting down the Hardin County Work Camp at the end of 2015 to save money.
Legislation to re-open the facility failed in 2016 and 2017.
