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Bill would expand construction training, broaden allowed projects at Montana Correctional Enterprises
Summary
House Bill 572 would clarify Montana Correctional Enterprises'mission to include inmate construction training, raise project value caps, confine inmate labor to Montana State Prison and encourage pre-apprenticeship development with organized labor; proponents said the program could reduce recidivism by easing reentry into the trades.
Representative John Fitzpatrick told the committee House Bill 572 makes several changes to the Montana Correctional Enterprises program at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge. The measure clarifies that inmate education, including construction training, is a program purpose, raises the per-project value cap from $200,000 to $600,000, restricts inmate labor to inside the prison, and directs the Department of Corrections to engage organized labor on a pre-apprenticeship program to ease reentry.
Scott Eichner, rehabilitation programs chief for the Department of Corrections, testified in support and said the agency appreciates the sponsor's amendments. Amanda Frickl of the Montana AFL-CIO (also offering support for the Montana State Building and Construction Trades Council) said the vocational opportunities "set them up for success once they are on parole" and could reduce recidivism.
The bill also removes a dealer-network requirement that limited direct contracts with for-profit entities; Fitzpatrick said the enterprise account finances program activity and any staff for training would be paid from enterprise revenues rather than the general fund. Committee members asked questions about the bill's sunset language and whether the Montana State Prison is the intended site; DOC witnesses said the language applies specifically to the Deer Lodge site and that expansion to other facilities would be considered separately in the future. The committee later listed HB 572 for concurrence during executive action.
