CO SB238

Allows county sheriffs discretionary authority to assign prisoners to work outside jail facilities at any time, including on public property, rather than only when no inside work is available.

Permits unconvicted persons detained in county jails to volunteer for work while confined, subject to sheriff approval.

Requires counties and city-counties to compensate inmates for work performed outside jail property, depositing compensation into inmate jail accounts.

Mandates that compensation rates for outside work be similar to offender pay rates for equivalent work in the Department of Corrections as established by that department's regulations.

Takes effect August 8, 2018, unless subject to a referendum petition, in which case it requires voter approval at the November 2018 general election.