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Committee advances AB 248 to remove state cap on county‑jail incarcerated‑worker wages
Summary
AB 248 would remove a statutory wage cap that currently limits pay for incarcerated county‑jail workers (commonly cited as $2 per eight‑hour shift), allowing counties to set wages. The Public Safety Committee passed the bill to the floor amid broad support from reentry and legal‑services groups.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan told the committee AB 248 would remove the statutory $2 per eight‑hour shift cap that limits wages for incarcerated workers in county jails, a limit that critics say amounts to roughly 25¢ an hour at maximum and forces incarcerated people to rely on outside support to buy basic items.
A formerly incarcerated speaker described daily work tasks (early morning meal service, cleaning, maintenance) and said the compensation was insufficient to meet even basic needs. Supporters argued removing the cap does not mandate a particular wage but allows counties and local stakeholders to determine appropriate pay and would reduce exploitation and help formerly incarcerated people contribute to restitution and reentry costs.
No witnesses testified in opposition at the hearing; a range of reentry and legal‑services organizations provided letters or in‑person testimony in support. The committee passed AB 248 and the measure was reported out of committee to the floor.
