Committee approves bill to bar for‑profit contracts for incarcerated labor

The House committee voted to release House Bill 291, which would prohibit the Delaware Department of Correction from entering contracts with for‑profit entities to use incarcerated labor.

Sponsor Representative Morrison told the panel the bill simply codifies a practice he said should be preserved: "It is morally wrong that these companies should make profits while paying anyone working for them such paltry wages," he said, arguing that contracted inmate labor often pays far less than the minimum wage and "is akin to slave labor." He added the bill would not affect outside employment and work‑release programs, which by statute require at least minimum wage.

Paul Shavik, chief of staff at the Department of Correction, testified the department does not currently use a for‑profit inmate‑labor model and that existing programs such as Delaware Correctional Industries are state operated. "That is not a model currently employed by the department, and as such, we don't anticipate any impact to existing operations," Shavik said, adding DOC stands ready to implement the statute if enacted.

Public comment largely supported the bill. Mary Anne Dade of the Tide Shift Justice Project said incarcerated workers should not be a profit center for private companies; Joe Walls, CEO of Veteran Services, urged bringing privatized services back in‑house so workers receive DOC wages.

A motion to release HB291 carried on a roll‑call vote; the chair announced the bill passed committee with eight yes votes and will be posted on the legislative website and presented on the House floor.

The bill’s next steps are routine: if it secures signatures from absent committee members it will be reported out and scheduled for floor action.