J. Clark Kelso, the federal receiver responsible of bringing California’s prison health system in conformity with legal stipulations, would call for an order to seize $8 billion from the state treasury to provide financial support to improvements.

The court-appointed receiver stated that he would request Judge Thelton E. Henderson of Federal District Court in San Francisco to oblige Californian residents to disburse to fund new medical facilities and renovate the existing ones at the state’s 33 detention centers, which failed to comply with the constitutional requirements.

Mr. Kelso also said the state ought to pay $8 billion over five years. His requests will be heard in court in the coming month.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration admitted Kelso had the right to claim the sum in order to improve the facilities. Moreover, the officials said that the required payment would trigger to penitentiaries adhering to constitutional standards, by changing the severe prison conditions.

The federal overseer’s request to the judge comes at the time when the state of California is facing a $15.2 billion deficit. If approved, the budget deficit would totalize $18.3 billion.

In an interview, 38th Governor of the state said that he had a high regard for the receiver and described him as "a smart man." However, he insinuated that the request would rebound. "I think he has to be a part of the team, and he can't be floating out there by himself because otherwise everyone would be out there trying to derail him," Schwarzenegger stated. "And I would not wish that on anybody."