Prison Industry Authority: private employer: pilot program.

Existing law creates the Prison Industry Authority within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation with the purpose of operating a work program for prisoners that will give prisoners the opportunity to work productively, to earn funds, and to acquire or improve effective work habits and occupational skills. Existing law establishes the Prison Industry Board within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to oversee the Prison Industry Authority, as specified. Under existing law, a state agency seeking to enter into a contract with a private business may grant a bid preference if certain conditions are met. Existing law, known as the 2011 Realignment Legislation, made certain felonies punishable by imprisonment in a county jail, as specified. This bill would require the Prison Industry Authority to establish a pilot program by selecting one private employer that employs ex-felons, as defined, to provide goods to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or other state agencies pursuant to a procurement contract with the Department of General Services. The bill would entitle the selected private employer to a bid preference of 20% if 12 or more of the employer's nonexempt employees performing work on the contract are full-time employees who are ex-felons, 10% if 14 or more, but less than12, of the employer's nonexempt employees performing work on the contract are full-time employees who are ex-felons, 10% if the employer provides employer-funded health care coverage and a retirement plan, and 10% if the employer has executed a labor peace agreement. The bill would specify that the procurement contract is for a period of 5 years commencing from the date the contract is awarded and would require the authority to post this date on its Internet Web site. The bill would require the authority to prepare and submit a report on the success of the pilot program to the Prison Industry Board and the Legislature, as specified, by the end of the 3rd year after the date the contract is awarded. The provisions of the bill would be repealed 6 years after the date the contract is awarded.