Senate Bill 2288 Summary

• Brings forward sections 47-5-531 through 47-5-579 of the Mississippi Code (Mississippi Prison Industries Act of 1990) for possible amendment without making substantive changes to existing law.

• Establishes a five-member board of directors for the nonprofit corporation managing prison industries, composed of the Department of Corrections Commissioner, representatives from faith-based and business communities, the Executive Director of the Office of Workforce Development, and the Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board.

• Authorizes the corporation to operate work initiatives at state correctional facilities with participation limited to inmates with no more than two years remaining on their sentence, who have not been convicted of certain violent crimes within five years, and who have not been sentenced for sex offenses.

• Requires participating inmates in work initiatives to maintain bank accounts and allocate earnings as follows: 25% for dependent support and court-ordered obligations, 15% for administrative expenses, 50% for savings upon release, and 10% for incidental expenses.

• Requires the corporation to submit semiannual reports to the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review (PEER) and the Corrections and Criminal Justice Oversight Task Force tracking program participation, outcomes, earnings, and recidivism data; sunsets July 1, 2027.