House Appropriations committee backs $3.1M fix for Correctional Industries Fund and adds intent language on inmate wages, programs

The Vermont House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 3 recommended that the House Appropriations Committee (BAA) include $3.1 million to eliminate a deficit in the Vermont Correctional Industries Fund and transmitted a package of nonbinding intent language asking the Department of Corrections (DOC) to review wages and program design for offender work programs.

Committee members told colleagues the vote was driven by a fund shortfall discovered at the end of the last fiscal cycle and by concerns that the fund’s remaining balance must be made solvent so similar deficits do not recur. The committee also reaffirmed earlier agreement to support a $1,000,000 appropriation for an offender management system and to accept the governor’s recommendation to transfer certain lease and IT charges from the Agency of Digital Services to DOC for its IT system.

The adopted…