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SCR125...............................................by JUDICIARY AND RULES
CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES - Stating findings of the Legislature; commending
Correctional Industries for its efforts and accomplishments; and requesting
that Correctional Industries be innovative in expanding public and
private-public work opportunities.
02/24 Senate intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/25 Rpt prt - to 10th Ord
02/26 10th Ord - ADOPTED - Voice Vote
Title apvd - to House
03/01 House intro - 1st rdg - to Jud
03/12 Rpt out - rec d/p - to 2nd rdg
03/15 2nd rdg - to 3rd rdg
03/17 3rd rdg - ADOPTED - voice vote - to enrol
03/18 Rpt enrol - Pres signed - Sp signed
03/22 To Secretary of State
SCR125|||| LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO |||| Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session - 1999IN THE SENATE SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 125 BY JUDICIARY AND RULES COMMITTEE 1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2 STATING LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS, COMMENDING CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES AND PROVID- 3 ING LEGISLATIVE DIRECTION TO CORRECTIONAL INDUSTRIES. 4 Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Idaho: 5 WHEREAS, Correctional Industries is a division of the Idaho Department of 6 Correction and is charged with providing incarcerated inmates with job train- 7 ing and work experience by employing them in a realistic work environment that 8 teaches work ethics and skills that will increase their chance for successful 9 transition as a productive member of society; and 10 WHEREAS, even though Correctional Industries currently manufactures, pro- 11 duces or provides new or restored office furniture, license plates, dairy and 12 meat products used by prisons, signs, printing and bindery services, engraving 13 plaques, data entry and microfilming for state and local government entities 14 at competitive prices, it is only employing around twelve percent of the qual- 15 ified prison population and needs opportunities from qualified customers to 16 expand employment to inmates; and 17 WHEREAS, work experiences reduce inmate idleness thereby reducing tension 18 and providing a positive outlet for their energies making it safer for inmates 19 and correction personnel; and 20 WHEREAS, Correctional Industries seeks to be self-sustaining, saves tax 21 dollars and provides emotional benefit to inmates by providing them with gain- 22 ful employment and takes deductions from inmate wages for victim restitution 23 and room and board while allowing limited amounts for personal use and sav- 24 ings, thereby providing financial benefits to the state while teaching inmates 25 accountability and responsibility; and 26 WHEREAS, inmates should produce all of their own food, clothing and other 27 goods and services they use to the maximum extent practicable. 28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the First Regular Session 29 of the Fifty-fifth Idaho Legislature, the Senate and the House of Representa- 30 tives concurring therein, that we recognize and commend Correctional Indus- 31 tries for its efforts and accomplishments. 32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we request Correctional Industries be innova- 33 tive in expanding public and private-public work opportunities that place the 34 interests of taxpayers first in each new work experience while at the same 35 time being price competitive and sensitive to the effect its enterprises have 36 on established private business in Idaho.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS 09114
The purpose of this legislation is to provide legislative
direction to the Department of Corrections in carrying out its
responsibility to save taxpayer dollars and cut the inmate
recidivism rate.
Correctional Industries employs about 12% of qualified
prisoners. While the operations of Corrections Industries have
been growing, there are still about 3,000 inmates who are
largely idle. This condition is costly to the taxpayers and does
little to improve the inmate's chances for a successful
transition into society after they have served their time.
Providing a useful work experience to inmates is an integral
part of Department of Correction's prison program. While Idaho
law provides enabling legislation that governs the operating
parameters of Correctional Industries , it does not provide
explicit support for the program. Accordingly, Correctional
Industries sometimes gets mixed signals from the public and
legislators. This legislation goes a long way in clarifying
support for Correctional Industries and the expansion of inmate
work opportunities.
FISCAL NOTE
There is no planned or anticipated fiscal impact of this
legislation. Currently, Correctional Industries receives no
general fund support. Correctional Industries operates solely
from the funds generated from the sale of their goods and
services.
In fact, this legislation will save tax dollars through reduced
recidivism, reduced inmate idleness, and deductions from inmate
wages.
CONTACT PERSONS: Senator Hal Bunderson
Representative Mike Moyle
332-1000
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/ FISCAL NOTE SCR125