House Bill No. introduced by J. Fitzpatrick aims to revise the Montana Correctional Enterprises Prison Industries Training Program by incorporating educational programming and increasing the allowable maximum sum for construction projects performed by inmates from $200,000 to $600,000. The bill also allows the program to provide vocational training that aligns with private market demand and eliminates the requirement for products and services to be provided through contracts and dealer networks. A significant addition is the directive for the Department of Corrections to collaborate with labor union and building trades representatives to develop a pre-apprenticeship training program for inmates, ensuring their successful transition into the construction industry upon release.

Additionally, the bill amends existing sections of the Montana Code Annotated (MCA) to reflect these changes, including the expansion of the prison industries training program to include educational programming and vocational training. It also specifies that construction projects may only be conducted on the grounds of the Montana State Prison and allows for the sale of prison-made goods directly to government agencies and other entities without the need for dealer networks. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval, with a termination date of December 30, 2026, for the pre-apprenticeship training program.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1(1): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1(2): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1(3): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1(4): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1(5): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_1: 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(1): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(2): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(3): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(4): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(5): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(6): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(7): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(8): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2(9): 53-30-131, 53-30-132
HB0572_2: 53-30-131, 53-30-132