The Idaho state Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill that would allow prison inmates to work in all parts of agriculture, an expansion of the 2014 law that authorized prison labor in businesses that produce perishable foods. During a committee hearing, tree farmer Bill Clayton said he cannot locate enough workers on the open market, despite offering higher pay and bonuses.
Clayton told the committee, “We need workers, the Idaho agriculture community needs workers,” according to legislative coverage by the University of Idaho journalism school. The warden of the South Boise Women’s Correctional Center said the proposed change in the law would give inmates more opportunities.
State Sen. Patti Lodge sponsored the 2014 law and is the sponsor of the new bill. Last year, Capital Press said six Idaho businesses — two fruit companies and four potato-related companies — participated in the inmate labor program, using from 150 to 261 inmates at a time. Companies are required to pay the prevailing wage and to certify they had tried to hire locally.