House Bill 313

Chair's Name: Terry Barnard

Committee: State Institutions & Property

House Sponsor: Terry Barnard

HB 313 allows the Georgia Correctional Industries Administration to administer, manage, and promote programs involving voluntary inmate labor. Currently, only the Board of Corrections is authorized to administer these programs.

This bill received a Do Pass recommendation from the State Institutions & Property Committee and comes to the House Floor under the Open Rule. 

Chairman Barnard�s opinion of this legislation:

WHAT PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY DOES THIS LEGISLATION ADDRESS?

The AG�s office ruled that under current law Georgia Correctional Industries could not be the administrator over the Prison Enhancement Program.

WHAT IS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THIS LEGISLATION?

An agency request.

THIS LEGISLATION:

• Reduces the Size of Government:

The Department of Corrections believes that Correctional Industries would be better suited to administer the program and would reduces the need for an additional layer of Government set aside to administer a single program outside of Correctional Industries.

Senate Changes:

The Senate added language which authorizes the DOC commissioner to issue a warrant to arrest an escapee from the custody of the department with probable cause to believe the offender escaped from lawful confinement. The Senate also added language from SB 34 to prevent prisoners convicted of serious violent or sexual crimes from possessing a photograph of their victim, which was passed by the House this week.