TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is considering having a private company build a new prison and lease it back to the cash-strapped state to replace its oldest and largest lockup, an idea that some critics see as a step toward privatizing the entire corrections system.

Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood announced Thursday that the state will solicit proposals from private companies to build the new prison in Lansing. Corrections officials said the new facility would be safer and cheaper to maintain than the existing one.

Some legislators were immediately skeptical of a lease-purchase arrangement. Repu...