HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 6473

BYSenate Committee on Law & Justice (originally sponsored by Senators Thorsness, Wojahn, McCaslin, Gaspard, Rasmussen and Lee; by request of Department of Corrections)

Changing conditions applying to the sale of products of correctional industries.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:Antonio Sanchez (786-7383)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, the products of state-run class II industries may only be sold to public agencies and nonprofit organizations.

It is suggested that the existing statute be amended to allow the sale of class II industry products to private contractors when the end user is a public agency or nonprofit organization.

SUMMARY:

The products and services of class II correctional industries may be sold to private contractors when the goods purchased will ultimately be used by a public agency or a nonprofit corporation.  The products and services must be reviewed by the Correctional Industries' Board of Directors before offering such products and services for sale to private contractors.  The board of directors is also required to conduct a yearly marketing review of the products and services offered by correctional industries.  The review must include an analysis of the potential impact of the proposed products and services on the Washington state business community.

The Department of Corrections is authorized to donate clothing manufactured by a class II industry to any nonprofit organization that provides clothing free of charge to low-income persons.

In conducting its yearly marketing review of the products and services offered by correctional industries, the Correctional Industries' Board of Directors is required to analyze the potential impact of the proposed products and services on the Washington state business community.

The Department of Corrections is required to study the expansion of prison industries products to the private sector and report to the Senate Law & Justice Committee by January 1, 1991.

Revenue:    The bill has a revenue impact.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

Effective Date:July 1, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    John Cusick, Department of Corrections.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This bill will give correctional industries greater flexibility and outline new areas of cooperation.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.