Bill > AB475

This bill modifies California's existing laws regarding inmate work programs by transforming mandatory work requirements into voluntary programs. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to develop a voluntary work program for incarcerated individuals and prohibits mandatory work assignments after January 1, 2027, with some potential exceptions. The legislation changes how inmate wages are determined, allowing the CDCR to set compensation for state prison work assignments through regulations and requiring local ordinances to set compensation for county and city jail work programs. This represents a significant shift from the current system, where inmates are required to participate in 8 hours of daily programming, including labor, and can lose privileges for non-participation. The bill also includes a provision that if the Commission on State Mandates determines the act creates additional costs for local agencies, the state will reimburse those costs according to existing statutory procedures. By making inmate work voluntary, the bill aims to provide more choice and potentially reduce punitive aspects of existing labor requirements in California's correctional facilities.