Bill Text: TX HB4929 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to minimum compensation for inmates participating in certain work programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to Corrections [HB4929 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB4929-Introduced.html

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By: Jones of Harris H.B. No. 4929

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to minimum compensation for inmates participating in
certain work programs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 497.004(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The board shall [may] develop by rule and the department
shall [may] administer an incentive pay scale for work program
participants consistent with rules adopted by the board under
Subchapter C. The board shall set pay levels at a minimum of $7.25
per hour of work. Prison industries may be financed through
contributions donated for this purpose by private businesses
contracting with the department. The department shall apportion pay
earned by a work program participant in the same manner as is
required by rules adopted by the board under Section 497.0581.
SECTION 2. Section 497.099(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The board shall [may] develop by rule and the department
shall [may] administer an incentive pay scale program for inmates
required to work in agricultural, industrial, or other work
programs. In developing the program, the board shall set pay levels
not to unjustly reward inmates, but rather to instruct inmates on
the virtues of diligent participation in the workplace, provided
that the board shall set pay levels at a minimum of $7.25 per hour
of work. The department shall deposit an amount earned by an inmate
under this subsection into the inmate's trust fund and may deduct
not more than 80 percent of the amount deposited under this
subsection for payment of restitution and dependent care owed by
the inmate. This subsection does not apply to the compensation of
an inmate participating in a Texas Correctional Industries program
under Subchapter A or an inmate participating in a private sector
prison industries program under Subchapter C.
SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas Board
of Criminal Justice shall adopt the rules required by Sections
497.004(a) and 497.099(b), Government Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.