Senate Bill 2445 Summary

• Extends the repeal date of the Mississippi Prison Industries Act from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2027, and extends the Correctional Facility Pilot Work Release Program repeal date to July 1, 2027.

• Adds Hinds County to the counties authorized to establish pilot work release programs alongside existing Rankin County, Harrison County, and Lee County.

• Modifies wage distribution requirements for work release and work initiative participants: 25% for court-ordered obligations, 15% to administrative expenses, 50% to savings accounts, and 10% for incidental expenses.

• Expands the work initiative program beyond state facilities to allow regional and private correctional facilities to establish work initiatives under warden or sheriff oversight, limited to 25 inmates per facility.

• Changes PEER reporting requirements from a one-time report to annual reports due each December 1, and adds data tracking on participating employers, job acquisitions, and hourly wages paid.