September 28, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Sortwell, Tittl, Armstrong, Baldeh, Brandtjen, Donovan, Goeben, Gundrum, Michalski, Moses, Mursau, Penterman, Schmidt and Steffen, cosponsored by Senators James, Cabral-Guevara and Taylor. Referred to Committee on Corrections.
AB462,,22An Act to amend 20.410 (1) (gi); and to create 303.066 of the statutes; relating to: creating an immersive work opportunity program for persons incarcerated in the state prisons. AB462,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill creates an immersive work opportunity program for prison inmates in this state. Under the program, inmates approaching their release date may apply to participate in the program, which would allow them to work for certain employers at the market wage for the position and be treated as any other employee, including wearing regular clothing to his or her work placement. Program participants may be housed in county facilities closer to work sites and transported to and from work sites by the Department of Corrections.
To be eligible to participate in the immersive work opportunity program, an inmate must have been sentenced to a bifurcated sentence and be within six months of his or her release to extended supervision; be of low or moderate security risk and have a behavioral history while incarcerated that indicates that he or she will not be a danger to the community while released for work; have previously obtained a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma or equivalent general education development credential; and agree to follow all DOC and program rules while participating in the program. Additionally, in selecting applicants for the program, DOC must consider whether the applicant has strong work history or job skills; an applicant’s level of education; an applicant’s behavioral history; an applicant’s history of mental health challenges, substance abuse issues, or anger management need; and the proximity of the work site to the applicant’s crime victim.