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Advocates urge raising incarcerated indigent threshold from $25 to $100
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Summary
Supporters told the Senate Human Services Committee raising the indigent threshold to $100 would let incarcerated people afford hygiene and basic commissary items, reduce family burden, and prevent post-release debt; staff noted a DOC fiscal estimate of indeterminate costs above $50,000 and IT changes.
Committee staff briefed Substitute House Bill 2539 and explained current Department of Corrections rules that consider incarcerated people "indigent" if they have $25 or less in their institutional account; deductions for legal financial obligations, child support and commissary debts can leave people without funds for essentials.
Will Tronson told the committee the bill would change the indigent definition to under $100 and noted a fiscal estimate from DOC of indeterminate costs, "assumed to be greater than $50,000" for the year because of the indigency change and IT implementation needs. He also reported the House passed the bill 57–36.
Representative Chapala Street, sponsor of HB 2539, said the change is not meant to eliminate LFOs or child-support payments but to reserve more funds for essential items and reduce dangerous behaviors inside facilities that arise when people cannot afford hygiene products. "We're basically raising that threshold to $100," Street said, adding that $25 is insufficient and that raising the level supports rehabilitation and safer facilities.
Several formerly incarcerated people and advocates testified in favor. Kelly Olsen (policy manager, formerly incarcerated) said commissary prices are often higher than outside prices and wages inside are low; she described the impact of deductions and urged the modest $100 increase to relieve families and reduce debt upon release.
Emeja Smith (founder, Colorful Communities) and Candace Baumann (member, Washington Statewide Reentry Council) also testified, describing how the change would ease family financial burden and allow incarcerated people to buy meaningful items—Baumann noted examples such as yarn for coping activities—and reduce tension caused by debt. Testimony included a commissary price list presented by a witness: toothpaste $5.74, soap $1.10, deodorant $7.84, razors $2.15, lotion $4.86.
Committee members asked staff to provide the statutory history of the indigent threshold; staff agreed to follow up. The hearing on HB 2539 was paused earlier to accommodate other briefings and later resumed for public testimony; no committee vote was recorded during the session.
