H-1217.2 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1686
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State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Representatives Hargrove, Riley, Tate, Prentice, Padden, H. Myers, Kremen, Dorn, Morris, Jacobsen, Roland, Pruitt, Valle, Betrozoff, Brekke, Paris, Scott, Inslee, Basich, Sheldon and Wineberry.
Read first time February 6, 1991. Referred to Committee on Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to correctional industries; adding new sections to chapter 72.60 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the lack of sufficient, appropriate, innovative, and meaningful work incentives programs in prison has contributed to the lack of a positive work ethic among offenders. This condition has resulted in an unfortunately high and increasing number of offenders who are unable to successfully transition to the working environment outside the prison. It also results in a high rate of recidivism, a harsher prison environment, and a higher likelihood that both society and the state will pay higher long-term prison costs. Furthermore, the legislature finds that meaningful training and education programs, combined with an opportunity to turn increased productivity or newly acquired skills into higher in-prison wages and improved accommodations, will serve to help offenders develop and acquire better work habits, learn necessary work skills, achieve a valuable sense of self worth, and gain educational opportunities that are intended to be positive for society and rehabilitative for the offender.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 72.60 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall develop a pilot incentive program using increased wages and cells with more amenities to encourage increased educational and job skills levels among inmates employed in class I and II correctional industries. Participants must attend a school and be working toward specific educational goals. The department shall adopt rules for the operation of this pilot program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 72.60 RCW to read as follows:
The department shall construct medium security modular units to house offenders employed in class I and II correctional industries. The modular units shall be designed to provide four-person, two-person, and single cells as part of an incentive plan to encourage offenders to continue positive programming, meet their legal financial obligations, and pay at least the difference in capitalized construction cost per cell between an enhanced pilot prison cell built for this incentive program and what the average cost is for a nonenhanced cell in the same facility built for inmates not in the pilot incentives program. All support services, such as medical, counseling, recreation, and custody shall be provided at current levels for offenders housed in the modular units.
At least ten percent of the incentive housing constructed for this program shall be reserved for inmates with five years or less remaining in their sentence, to ensure greater turnover and allow more inmates to participate in the program. Inmates occupying the incentive housing must pay housing fees with their correctional industries income only.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 72.60 RCW to read as follows:
Wage increases for class II employees shall be based on an incentive/disincentive plan, tieing raises with meeting or exceeding educational requirements and specified job skill levels. Additionally, on an incentive/disincentive basis, an offender can attain single cell housing by demonstrating work maturity skills, maintaining positive behavior both on and off the job, and by authorizing a higher deduction for room and board.
Offenders applying for class I jobs must meet prescribed educational and skill levels before being hired, or have to attain those levels as a condition of continued employment. Wage increases for class I employees shall be given at the discretion of the class I employer based upon performance. Class I employees may also participate in the housing incentive program.
The department may offer alternative work schedules to allow more time for educational opportunities, such as split shifts, multiple shifts, or ten-hour work days.