HB629 Summary

• Authorizes the Department of Corrections to contract with private industry to establish work-oriented rehabilitation programs within correctional facilities on department property or at any prison facility housing sentenced inmates.

• Permits sale of products produced by prisoners on probation, parole, or under community supervision, while maintaining the ban on selling products manufactured by incarcerated prisoners on the open market.

• Requires participating inmates to earn not less than prevailing wage for similar private sector work, with earnings paid directly to the department and subject to withholding up to 40 percent for confinement costs and court-ordered restitution.

• Exempts rental or lease agreements for prison industry facilities from competitive bidding requirements and exempts the department and private contractors from certain labor and sales restrictions.

• Repeals Sections 14-7-9, 14-7-10, and 14-7-11 and amends multiple sections of prison industries law to implement these new provisions.