Assembly Bill 741 mandates that the Department of Corrections (DOC) provide a range of personal hygiene products in state correctional institution commissaries, ensuring that these products are sold at prices not exceeding 125% of the sales price at the highest-grossing retail chain in the state. The bill specifies that at least two varieties of various hygiene items, including deodorant, shampoo, and toothpaste, must be available. Additionally, it requires the provision of culturally sensitive products, such as hair care items suitable for specific hair types, at prices not exceeding 100% of the benchmark retailer's sales price. Each inmate will also receive a monthly stipend of $25 to purchase these products.
Furthermore, the bill extends similar requirements to county jails and houses of correction, where sheriffs must ensure that the same personal hygiene products are available at the prices established by the DOC. Sheriffs are also required to provide a monthly personal hygiene stipend of $25 to inmates starting from their 91st day of confinement. The bill allocates $6,450,000 to the DOC for each year of the 2025-27 biennium to support these initiatives.