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Panel forwards bill to cap prison canteen prices; committee says adoption would be optional for wardens
Summary
Representative John King's House Bill 3,929, which would establish statutory provisions to govern Department of Corrections canteens and cap prices, received a favorable report from the subcommittee by a 5-0 roll call; members clarified the measure is permissive and would regulate pricing only if a facility chooses to adopt such canteen access.
Representative John King introduced House Bill 3,929 and the Domestic Relations Business and Probate Law Subcommittee voted 5-0 to give the bill a favorable report on Thursday. The bill seeks to establish statutory provisions governing Department of Corrections canteens and the pricing of items sold in those canteens.
"I believe that there's price gouging within the system, in the canteens," Representative John King said, describing anecdotes from family members of incarcerated people who reported high prices for basic items. "If they have to get, like, deodorant that's probably this size, they're paying, like, $10 for it." Representative King said the bill would put a cap on how much can be charged.
Representative David Martin asked whether the bill would require prisons to operate canteens or only regulate them if a facility chooses to have one. "Just a quick question... it's not required that these go in there. It's not required that the prisons actually do this. This is just a may in the event they want to, this would then regulate it," Representative Martin said. Representative King confirmed that it would be up to the warden or facility manager whether to implement such canteen operations, and the bill would then regulate pricing and operation if a facility elects to offer a canteen.
After brief discussion the committee adopted the favorable report by roll call, five ayes and no nays. Committee members described the measure as regulatory in scope — capping prices if a facility provides a canteen — rather than a mandatory new program imposed on wardens.
The subcommittee forwarded House Bill 3,929 with a favorable recommendation.
