HB629 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve HurstRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Corrections Department, prison industries, contracts with private industry for on-site work projects, authorized, additional vocational training and rehabilitation, Secs. 14-7-7, 14-7-8, 14-7-12, 14-7-13, 14-7-14, 14-7-15, 14-7-18, 14-7-19, 14-7-20, 14-7-21, 14-7-22 am'd.; Secs. 14-7-9, 14-7-10, 14-7-11 repealed

Summary

HB629 would let the Department of Corrections sell prisoner-made products and partner with private industry to run on-site work programs, expanding inmate training and rehabilitation funded by a new Prison Industries revolving fund.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the sale of products produced by prisoners on probation, parole, or under community supervision and allows the department to contract with private industry to create work-oriented rehabilitation programs inside facilities. It reworks procurement rules so state offices must buy prison-made goods from the Corrections Board, sets up a Prison Industries Revolving Fund to finance operations, and requires annual reporting and cataloging of products. It also sets wage rules for inmate workers, restricts how earnings are handled, and requires that private parties market the products rather than the department itself, while repealing older related sections.

Who It Affects

• Inmates and participants in prison work programs: they would participate in on-site or contracted work, earn at least the prevailing private-sector wage, have earnings processed by the department with allowable withholdings (up to 40%), and would not be considered state employees or eligible for state employee benefits.
• State agencies, political subdivisions, and private industry partners: they would be required to purchase prison-made goods directly from the Corrections Board when possible, may enter into private contracts for on-site programs or facility-based operations, and would interact with the Prison Industries Fund for funding and compliance purposes.

Key Provisions

• Amends multiple sections (14-7-7, 14-7-8, 14-7-12, 14-7-13, 14-7-14, 14-7-15, 14-7-18, 14-7-19, 14-7-20, 14-7-21, 14-7-22) to authorize prison industries, inmate training, and rehabilitation; repeals sections 14-7-9, 14-7-10, and 14-7-11.
• Authorizes the Department of Corrections to contract with private industry to create on-site work programs and to provide inmate labor for manufacturing or services inside department facilities.
• Requires the department to sell products produced by prisoners (including those on probation, parole, or under community supervision) and prohibits open-market sale to general vendors, with certain exceptions for community corrections participants.
• Establishes the Prison Industries Account and an Industrial Revolving Fund to pay for raw materials, equipment, buildings, and operations; excess funds may be transferred to the State General Fund with Governor and Legislature approval.
• Mandates state agencies to purchase directly from the Corrections Board for prison-made articles, with reporting by the Finance Department and annual compliance reviews; permits exceptions as specified.
• Sets inmate wage rules: earnings at least the prevailing private-sector wage, with deductions for confinement costs and court-ordered restitution; up to 40% of earnings may be withheld, and earnings are deposited into the department’s funds; inmates are not state employees and do not receive employee benefits.
• Allows rental or lease agreements for state buildings to support prison industries, exempt from certain bid laws, and requires coordination for access and operation of facilities.
• Requires programs to comply with federal Prison Industries Enhancement Act requirements and to maintain funding for prison education programs within the two-year college system.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Corrections Department