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SC H5357

Bill

Official Source

Status

Introduced

3/11/2026

Primary Sponsor

Jermaine Johnson

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

126th General Assembly

AI Summary

  • Requires inmates in South Carolina Department of Corrections facilities and local detention facilities to be compensated at least the federal minimum wage for all work performed while incarcerated
  • Amends existing prison industry work contracts to allow wages below prevailing local rates but not below federal minimum wage for export work and service work involving repair, packaging, sorting, recycling, and labeling
  • Applies minimum wage requirements to work release programs, requiring both locality-comparable pay and at least federal minimum wage
  • Extends minimum wage protections to inmates in local regional correctional facilities and county/municipal detention facilities performing public works or road work
  • Maintains existing deduction structure from inmate wages: 20% for victim restitution, 35% for child support, 10% for incidentals, 10% for escrow, with remainder for taxes

Legislative Description

Inmate minimum wage

Last Action

Referred to Committee on Ways and Means

3/11/2026

Committee Referrals

Ways and Means3/11/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available