California lawmaker revives effort to end forced prison labor
A new California bill seeks to prohibit the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from forcing inmates to work. A similar measure, Proposition 6, would have banned the practice as well, but voters rejected it during the 2024 election.
Introduced by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), AB 475 also calls on CDCR to develop a voluntary work program with regulations on assignments and wages.
If the bill becomes law, starting Jan. 1, 2027, it will prohibit CDCR from requiring incarcerated individuals to work, with some exceptions. It would also require local governments to establish wages for county and city jail work programs through local ordinances, creating a state-mandated local program.
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So far, the bill passed out of the public safety committee with a 6-1 vote. Two lawmakers, Assemblymembers James Ramos (D-San Bernardino) and Juan Alanis (R-Modesto), didn't vote.
One lawmaker who opposed the bill, Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), said during the hearing that he took issue with associating the prison workforce with slavery. He also said he couldn't support a bill the public has already voted against, according to the Sacramento Bee.
Wilson addressed those claims, saying that history would prove Lackey wrong regarding his assessment of the association between involuntary servitude in prisons and slavery.
She also said that the language around Prop. 6 was confusing and recognized that there wasn't an overwhelming response of 'no.' About 53.3% of voters voted no on Prop. 6, while 46.6% voted yes.
The bill will now face another committee review.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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