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ST. LOUIS — The first hearing for a bill designed to redress transparency rifts between city officials and civilian jail oversight board members is set for the Board of Aldermen on Thursday.

The bill sponsored by Alderman Rasheen Aldridge details the specific number of hours training jail board members will need, requires police and circuit attorney representatives to appear before the board monthly and authorizes the board to have its own attorney. Aldridge says Detention Facilities Oversight Board members were invited to come testify on Thursday.

“I care about transparency and that is something the city needs in wake of the recent deaths at the jail,� said Aldridge. “There were a lot of good intentions and substance with the latest DFOB bill, but the language just wasn’t clear.�

Concerns by various local and state politicians and government agencies have turned toward the City Justice Center recently in the wake of the deaths of three people awaiting trial in a six-week time period. Inmates also took a guard hostage this summer.

But the mayor and public safety director continue to defend the jail’s commissioner, and demand the board finish trainings they argue are mandatory. Until then, city officials say civilian jail board members cannot receive any more information on the jail deaths or operations.

Monday was the city’s deadline for proposal requests for a new jail inmate healthcare provider.

For city jail inmates’ healthcare, the city has largely relied on Corizon, one of the few jail healthcare companies in the country but one that is also the target of nation-wide lawsuits.