This bill proposes several updates to the current statutes regarding prisoner compensation and deductions. Under the new law, the minimum compensation for prisoners engaged in productive work would be set to not be less than the minimum wage prescribed by section 23-363, replacing the previous cap of one dollar fifty cents per hour. Additionally, the requirement for compensation in contracts with private entities would shift from a minimum of two dollars per hour to a rate that is commensurate with the market rate for similar contracts in Arizona.

The bill also modifies the mandatory deductions from prisoner wages. It removes the previous stipulations regarding deductions when compensation was less than two dollars per hour and restructures the order of deductions. Notably, it introduces a new deduction for court-ordered dependent care and adjusts the percentages and thresholds for other deductions, such as those for the prisoner's dedicated discharge account and transition program funding. Overall, these changes aim to enhance the financial conditions for prisoners while ensuring that deductions are more clearly defined and structured.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 31-254, 31-284, 23-363, 41-1624.01, 41-1624, 31-281, 35-146, 35-147, 31-230, 31-261, 31-228, 41-1604.03, 41-1674