TALLAHASSEE, Florida — A Florida appeals court is giving the state's prison agency the green light to privatize health care services.
The 1st District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that a lower court judge was wrong to block plans for outsourcing in three of Florida's four prison system regions.
A Department of Corrections spokeswoman says the agency will begin to carry out the privatization effort after the new state budget takes effect on July 1.
The state tried to move ahead with the privatization effort last year, but it was challenged by three unions representing some 2,600 state employees who stand to lose their jobs.
Circuit Judge John Cooper in December sided with the union because the privatization plan had been approved by a budget panel instead of the full Legislature.
