An anti-slavery amendment going before voters in the November 2024 election would prohibit forced labor, including in California state prisons. Here, prisoners put out hot spots from the Tick Fire on October 25, 2019 in Canyon Country.If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily morning newsletter, How To LA. Every weekday, you'll get fresh, community-driven stories that catch you up with our independent local news.
The measure — authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson — was one of 14 bills the California Legislative Black Caucus prioritized this year as its lawmakers worked to carry out recommendations from the.
State prisons hire incarcerated people for a variety of tasks, such as for janitorial, construction and fire safety. Technicians who are incarcerated make around 30 to 48 cents per hour for example, according to one committee analysis. Inmates who work to contain wildfires earn more, around $5.80 to $10.24 per day.
“We knew that his administration last year came in last minute with a cost analysis that killed the bill. It should not have,” said Cox, referring to the 2022 cost estimate on the previous proposal. A spokesperson for the state corrections department in a written statement said the prison system “values the contributions of its incarcerated workers and is committed to its mission to prepare people in its custody to successfully return to their communities.”Phew.