Bill Text: NH HB1555 | 2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Establishing a committee to study increasing wages, educational opportunities, and the corresponding impact on recidivism among prisoners incarcerated in a state correctional facility who work at or under the supervision of such facility
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2020-06-16 - Vacated from Committee and Laid on Table, Motion Adopted, Voice Vote; 06/16/2020 Senate Journal 8 [HB1555 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2020-HB1555-Amended.html
HB 1555-FN-LOCAL - AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
19Feb2020... 0138h
2020 SESSION
20-2343
04/05
HOUSE BILL 1555-FN-LOCAL
SPONSORS: Rep. Thompson, Ches. 14; Rep. Wilhelm, Hills. 42; Rep. Oxenham, Sull. 1
COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
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AMENDED ANALYSIS
This bill establishes a committee to study increasing wages, educational opportunities, and corresponding impact on recidivism among inmates incarcerated in a state correctional facility who work at or under the supervision of such facility.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
19Feb2020... 0138h
20-2343
04/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study increasing wages, educational opportunities, and the corresponding impact on recidivism among inmates incarcerated in a state correctional facility who work at or under the supervision of such facility.
2 Membership and Compensation.
I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:
(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.
II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.
I. The committee shall study:
(a) How the New Hampshire department of corrections could increase the wages of prisoners under the supervision of a correctional facility who perform skilled jobs inside such a facility, increase access to educational opportunities in the same facilities, and the relationship of both to recidivism.
(b) Existing wage structure for prisoners.
(c) Wages paid to prisoners in other states for similar work to that performed by prisoners in New Hampshire.
(d) Existing expenses for prisoners inside New Hampshire correctional facilities and whether existing wages cover those expenses.
(e) Whether increased wages should be restricted to certain uses, such as educational expenses.
(f) The different jobs performed by prisoners and whether there is reason to pay higher wages for certain jobs over others.
(g) Any possible rehabilitative impact of increased wages.
(h) The cost of increasing wages and whether wage increases could be rolled out incrementally over multiple budget cycles.
(i) Whether there are existing policies or laws that would enable the department of corrections to increase wages without additional legislation, and the possible benefits or challenges of additional legislation on the matter.
(j) The interplay between prison wages, educational opportunities, and recidivism.
II. ?The committee shall solicit information from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study, including the commissioner of the department of corrections, the American Civil Liberties Union, and individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in New Hampshire.
4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.
6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
20-2343
11/19/19
HB 1555-FN-LOCAL- FISCAL NOTE
AS INTRODUCED
AN ACT requiring prisoners to be paid the applicable minimum wage.
FISCAL IMPACT: [ X ] State [ ] County [ ] Local [ ] None
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| Estimated Increase / (Decrease) | |||
STATE: | FY 2020 | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Appropriation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Expenditures | $0 | $9,244,929 | $8,683,071 | $8,693,508 |
Funding Source: | [ X ] General [ ] Education [ ] Highway [ ] Other | |||
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METHODOLOGY:
This bill requires that a prisoner incarcerated in a state correctional facility who works in certain jobs at the facility be paid one-half of the state minimum hourly rate or the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher, and the additional amount earned shall only be used for vocational or postsecondary education. The Department of Corrections indicates residents are currently paid per day. The current federal and state minimum wage rate is $7.25 per hour. The Department assumes it would need to make changes to the offender management system to accommodate changes from daily pay to hourly pay. A scheduling and payroll system will also be required to track time worked and payroll expenditures. The Department assumes four additional payroll officers and one supervisor will be needed and has estimated the costs as follows:
Additional Staff | FY 2021 | FY 2022 | FY 2023 |
Supervisor II, LG21 |
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Salary | $43,115 | $44,831 | $46,761 |
Benefits | $27,688 | $29,057 | $30,520 |
Current Expenses & Equipment | $1,473 | $387 | $387 |
Total | $72,276 | $74,275 | $77,668 |
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Payroll Officer II |
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Salary | $21,255 | $21,821 | $22,386 |
Benefits | $23,408 | $24,551 | $25,747 |
Current Expenses & Equipment | $1,473 | $387 | $387 |
Total | $46,136 | $46,759 | $48,520 |
Amount for 4 Payroll Officers | $184,544 | $187,036 | $194,080 |
Total Additional Staff | $256,820 | $261,311 | $271,748 |
Other Expenses |
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Remuneration/Pay Increase (Based on residents working 4 hours/day) | $8,200,000 | $8,200,000 | $8,200,000 |
Offender Mgmt. System Upgrade | $100,000 | $0 | $0 |
Scheduling Software | $552,000 | $110,400 | $110,400 |
Payroll System | $111,360 | $111,360 | $111,360 |
Time Clocks | $24,749 | $0 | $0 |
Total Other Expenses | $8,988,109 | $8,421,760 | $8,421,760 |
Total Fiscal Impact | $9,244,929 | $8,683,071 | $8,693,508 |
It is assumed this bill will not take effect until FY 2021.
AGENCIES CONTACTED:
Department of Corrections
