When in prison, many prisoners can work and earn a wage during their incarceration.  However, the wages are low and not enough for prisoners to buy necessities from the commissary, let alone make restorative payments to the victims of their crimes.  In addition, without private industry involvement, prisoners may only be able to work in jobs within their facility, taking away opportunities for rehabilitation and development outside of their cell.     
 
This legislation aims to allow joint ventures between correctional facilities and private industry to provide prisoners, who volunteer for the program, with a regular, living wage. It would do this by establishing the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority, which would be able to authorize the Department of Corrections to apply to the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, for permission to participate in or open a number of assistance programs that would allow incarcerated individuals to develop positive work habits and cover portions of the cost for their incarceration.

This program is designed to place prisoners in a realistic work environment, pay them the local wage for similar work, and enable them to acquire marketable skills to increase their potential for successful rehabilitation and meaningful employment upon release. This legislation will provide prisoners with work while assuring that prisoner labor does not replace work opportunities for Pennsylvania residents.  Senator Bartolotta plans to join in this effort by introducing companion legislation in the Senate. Please join me in supporting this important legislation.