INMATE/WARD LABOR - 6835

(Revised and Renumbered from 6865.)

Public Contract Code Section 10103.5 provides an exclusion to the State Contract Act for work performed by prisoners pursuant to an order by the Director of the Department of Corrections. If the total cost of a project for the construction of new, previously unoccupied prison facilities or additions to an existing facility exceeds $50,000, use of inmate/ward labor must first be approved by PWB.

PWB Agenda package for inmate/ward labor: The request to use inmate/ward labor for services exceeding $50,000 is normally presented as a sub-item under the request for approval of preliminary plans, although it can be presented later. Assuming inmate/ward labor is concurrent with preliminary plans approval, the department should ensure that the approval of inmate/ward labor is included in the DF-14D. Otherwise, a full agenda package (see Section 6822) is required. A full agenda package is also required if the use of inmate/ward labor is needed for a minor capital outlay project.