1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study increasing wages, educational opportunities, and the corresponding impact on recidivism among inmates incarcerated in a state correctional facility who work at or under the supervision of such facility.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties.

I. The committee shall study:

(a) How the New Hampshire department of corrections could increase the wages of prisoners under the supervision of a correctional facility who perform skilled jobs inside such a facility, increase access to educational opportunities in the same facilities, and the relationship of both to recidivism.

(b) Existing wage structure for prisoners.

(c) Wages paid to prisoners in other states for similar work to that performed by prisoners in New Hampshire.

(d) Existing expenses for prisoners inside New Hampshire correctional facilities and whether existing wages cover those expenses.

(e) Whether increased wages should be restricted to certain uses, such as educational expenses.

(f) The different jobs performed by prisoners and whether there is reason to pay higher wages for certain jobs over others.

(g) Any possible rehabilitative impact of increased wages.

(h) The cost of increasing wages and whether wage increases could be rolled out incrementally over multiple budget cycles.

(i) Whether there are existing policies or laws that would enable the department of corrections to increase wages without additional legislation, and the possible benefits or challenges of additional legislation on the matter.

(j) The interplay between prison wages, educational opportunities, and recidivism.

II. The committee shall solicit information from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study, including the commissioner of the department of corrections, the American Civil Liberties Union, and individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in New Hampshire.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

1 Committee Established. There is established a committee to study increasing wages, educational opportunities, and the corresponding impact on recidivism among inmates incarcerated in a state correctional facility who work at or under the supervision of such facility.

2 Membership and Compensation.

I. The members of the committee shall be as follows:

(a) Five members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(b) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

II. Members of the committee shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the committee.

3 Duties.

I. The committee shall study:

(a) How the New Hampshire department of corrections could increase the wages of prisoners under the supervision of a correctional facility who perform skilled jobs inside such a facility, increase access to educational opportunities in the same facilities, and the relationship of both to recidivism.

(b) Existing wage structure for prisoners.

(c) Wages paid to prisoners in other states for similar work to that performed by prisoners in New Hampshire.

(d) Existing expenses for prisoners inside New Hampshire correctional facilities and whether existing wages cover those expenses.

(e) Whether increased wages should be restricted to certain uses, such as educational expenses.

(f) The different jobs performed by prisoners and whether there is reason to pay higher wages for certain jobs over others.

(g) Any possible rehabilitative impact of increased wages.

(h) The cost of increasing wages and whether wage increases could be rolled out incrementally over multiple budget cycles.

(i) Whether there are existing policies or laws that would enable the department of corrections to increase wages without additional legislation, and the possible benefits or challenges of additional legislation on the matter.

(j) The interplay between prison wages, educational opportunities, and recidivism.

II. The committee shall solicit information from any individual or entity the committee deems relevant to its study, including the commissioner of the department of corrections, the American Civil Liberties Union, and individuals currently or formerly incarcerated in New Hampshire.

4 Chairperson; Quorum. The members of the study committee shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the committee shall be called by the first-named house member. The first meeting of the committee shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

5 Report. The committee shall report its findings and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the governor, and the state library on or before November 1, 2020.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.