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Subcommittee backs bill to limit canteen prices in Department of Corrections at wardens' option
Summary
House Bill 3,929 would establish statutory provisions governing Department of Corrections canteens and cap prices for items if a facility chooses to operate a canteen; the subcommittee gave the bill a 5-0 favorable report.
House Bill 3,929 would establish statutory provisions for how the South Carolina Department of Corrections manages inmate canteens, including limits on the prices of items sold if a facility operates a canteen.
Representative John King, the bill’s sponsor, said he filed the bill after hearing from family members of incarcerated people who reported high prices for common items in facility canteens. “I believe that there's price gouging within the system,” King said, and described instances in which small items such as travel-size deodorant were being sold for what he said were inflated prices.
Committee members clarified that the bill does not mandate that a facility operate a canteen; Representative David Martin asked whether the bill merely regulated canteens “in the event they want to” operate them. King confirmed it is discretionary for wardens or those who manage a facility to decide whether to implement canteen operations and that the bill would regulate pricing where a canteen is provided.
After brief discussion, the subcommittee voted by roll call to give House Bill 3,929 a favorable report. The recorded votes were Representative Bernstein (yes), Representative Paula Calhoun (yes), Representative Guess (yes), Representative John King (yes) and Representative David Martin (yes). The final tally was 5-0 in favor.
No amendments or further referrals were recorded in the meeting.
