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Bill would add people with lived experience to Correctional Industries advisory committee
Summary
House Bill 1185 would add two governor-appointed, voting members with direct lived experience to the Correctional Industries Advisory Committee; proponents said lived experience improves program design and reentry outcomes, while DOC expressed support and said one previously incarcerated voting member already serves on the board.
Committee staff summarized House Bill 1185 as a measure to add two voting members to the Correctional Industries (CI) Advisory Committee who are from underrepresented populations and have direct lived experience with the issues CI addresses. The committee heard testimony in favor from current and formerly incarcerated workers, advocacy groups, and volunteers.
Representative Mary Fosse, who sponsored the measure, said her experience on the CI advisory committee showed the benefit of adding perspectives from people with lived experience. Several witnesses described how CI policies affect day-to-day work, employment access and clothing and sizing for women; Amanda Knight, who identified herself as currently employed with CI at Washington Corrections Center for Women, said centralized decisions have resulted in layoffs and reduced opportunities for women.
The Department of Corrections testified that it supports the policy of including incarcerated individuals in advisory discussions and noted that a previously incarcerated person already occupies one voting position on the CI committee in a union-represented seat.
Supporters argued adding lived-experience members would improve program design, reduce missed opportunities for reentry training, and help CI meet its workforce-development goals. No vote was taken on the bill in the hearing.
