FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2346

C 220 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Removing the requirement that correctional officers of the department of corrections purchase uniforms from correctional industries.

Sponsors: Representatives Walsh, Reykdal, Pearson, Hurst, Kristiansen, Nealey, McCune, Appleton, Orwall, Moscoso, Goodman, DeBolt, Rivers, Shea, Armstrong, Maxwell, Johnson, Springer, Darneille, Sells, Fitzgibbon, Eddy, Angel, Upthegrove, Kelley, Ryu, Stanford, Hudgins, Seaquist and Ormsby.

House Committee on Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness

House Committee on General Government Appropriations & Oversight

Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

The Department of Corrections (DOC) provides inmate work programs through the Correctional Industries Board (Board). The Board develops and implements programs that offer inmates employment, work experience, and training, and that reduce the cost of housing inmates. To achieve these goals, the Board operates five classes of correctional industry work programs. All inmates working in class I–IV employment receive financial compensation for their work. Class V jobs are court ordered community work that is performed for the benefit of the community without financial compensation.

Class II Industries. Class II ("tax reduction") industries are state-owned and operated industries designed to reduce the costs for goods and services for public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Industries in this class must be closely patterned after private sector industries but with the objective of reducing public support costs rather than making a profit. The products and services of this industry, including purchased products and services necessary for a complete product line, may only be sold to public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and to private contractors when the goods purchased will ultimately be used by a public agency or a nonprofit organization.

Inmates working in tax reduction industries do so by their own choice and are paid a gratuity which may not exceed the wage paid for work of a similar nature in the locality in which the industry is located. Class II gratuities range from 55 cents to $1.55 per hour and includes such jobs as: producing aluminum signs, license plates and tabs, mattresses, asbestos abatement, meat processing, optical lab, engraving, furniture manufacturing, screen printing and embroidery, industrial sewing, and laundry. Security and custody services are provided without charge by the DOC.

The DOC Correctional Officer Uniforms. The uniforms that the DOC correctional officers wear are produced by incarcerated offenders participating in one of the DOCs' class II industry programs. Correctional Industries routinely purchases all of its material supplies for the uniforms from an in-state vendor. The current fabric vendor is Top Value Fabrics, Inc., located in Edmonds, Washington. The uniforms are then sewn or manufactured at one of the DOCs' class II industry programs located at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, Airway Heights Corrections Center, or the Clallam Bay Corrections Center.

The DOC leases the uniforms directly from its class II Correctional Industries program and supplies all needed uniforms to its correctional officers at no cost to the officer.  Each correctional officer receives three short sleeve and three long sleeve shirts, three pants, a winter jacket, a summer jacket, a watch cap, a baseball cap, and duty belt (and rain gear, as necessary). All patches and emblems are included in the leasing price.  Mending, repairs, replacement, and laundering of all uniforms is also are provided to each correctional officer at no cost.

Approximately 100 offenders and eight staff are employed in the class II industry program industrial sewing shops that produces correctional officer uniforms.

Summary:

Incarcerated offenders under the custody of the DOC are prohibited from making or assembling uniforms worn by correctional officers employed by the DOC.

Effective July 1, 2012, the DOC is exempt from the statutory provisions that require state agencies to purchase goods and services from class II inmate work programs as it relates to uniforms for correctional officers.

Votes on Final Passage: