Committee advances AB 248 to remove state wage cap on incarcerated workers, restoring county control

The Senate Public Safety Committee on June 10 approved Assembly Bill 248, which would remove an existing state statutory cap on wages that counties may pay people incarcerated in county jails. The author said the change restores local control and imposes no fiscal cost on the state.

Assemblymember Brian, the bill author, said the state’s existing cap — inserted a decade ago — limited county boards of supervisors’ authority to set wages for jail labor and that removing the cap “restores local control.” He described the measure as a simple change that imposes no state fiscal cost and that would allow counties to decide wage levels based on local priorities.

Junius Winters, who testified as someone with lived experience working in Sacramento County Jail, recounted waking at 3 a.m. to prepare meals and performing daily cleaning and other duties while receiving little or no pay. Winters said the bill is an important step toward fairness and dignity for incarcerated workers.

Multiple public-defender, reentry and civil-rights organizations testified in support. Committee members described the bill as straightforward and praised the author. Senator Caballero and others said allowing counties to set wages could help people pay restitution and reduce reentry-related recidivism.

The committee passed the bill as amended and sent AB 248 to the Senate floor.