This bill would extend federal minimum wage and labor protections to incarcerated workers in the United States. Currently, incarcerated individuals are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act, meaning they can be required to work for little or no pay. The legislation would require that incarcerated workers employed by public prisons or private prisons operating under government contract receive at least minimum wage for their labor. The bill specifies that costs for food, housing, and facilities cannot be deducted from incarcerated workers' pay, though courts can still collect court-imposed fees and restitution from their wages. The bill covers workers in various prison programs including work-release initiatives, state prison industries, and facility maintenance, but does not establish a specific timeline or funding mechanism for implementation.
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