957.15  Funding of contracts for operation, maintenance, and lease-purchase of private correctional facilities.--The request for appropriation of funds to make payments pursuant to contracts entered into by the commission for the operation, maintenance, and lease-purchase of the private correctional facilities authorized by this chapter shall be made by the commission in a request to the department. The department shall include such request in its budget request to the Legislature as a separately identified item and shall forward the request of the commission without change. After an appropriation has been made by the Legislature to the department for the commission, the department shall have no authority over such funds other than to pay from such appropriation to the appropriate private vendor such amounts as are certified for payment by the commission.