Public hearing required

(a) General rule.-- (1) A private vendor who intends to submit a bid to the department pursuant to a request for proposal for beds in a community corrections facility shall conduct a public hearing in the municipality of the proposed site. (2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to a bid submitted as the result of a renewal for an existing contract at a facility which has been in use for a minimum of five years. (b) Conduct of hearing.--At the public hearing, the private vendor shall explain the operation of the community corrections facility and shall permit public comments relating to the site and operation of the facility. (c) Transcript.--The private vendor shall submit a transcript of the public hearing to the department as part of its bid pursuant to the request for proposal. (d) Department review.--The department shall review the transcript and shall consider the substance of the public comments when awarding a contract pursuant to the request for proposal.