(1) The employer model industries in this class shall be operated and managed in total or in part by any for-profit or nonprofit corporation pursuant to an agreement between the corporation and the department. The corporation shall produce goods or services for sale to both the public and private sector.
(2) The customer model industries in this class shall be operated and managed by the department to provide Washington state manufacturers or businesses with products or services currently produced or provided by out-of-state or foreign suppliers.
(3) The department shall review these proposed industries, including any potential new Class I industries work program or the significant expansion of an existing Class I industries work program, before the department contracts to provide such products or services. The review shall include the analysis required under RCW
72.09.115 to determine if the proposed correctional industries work program will compete with any Washington business. An agreement for a new Class I correctional industries work program, or an agreement for a significant expansion of an existing Class I correctional industries work program, that unfairly competes with any Washington business is prohibited.
(4) The department shall supply appropriate security and custody services without charge to the participating firms.
(5) Offenders who work in free venture industries shall do so at their own choice. They shall be paid a wage comparable to the wage paid for work of a similar nature in the locality in which the industry is located, as determined by the program director of correctional industries. If the program director cannot reasonably determine the comparable wage, then the pay shall not be less than the federal minimum wage.
(6) An offender who is employed in the Class I program of correctional industries shall not be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits pursuant to any of the provisions of Title
50 RCW until released on parole or discharged.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
72.01.090 and
72.09.100. WSR 15-20-010, § 137-80-031, filed 9/24/15, effective 1/1/16.]