PRINTER'S NO. 1948
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1649
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY RABB, KAZEEM, SANCHEZ, ABNEY, WAXMAN, HILL-EVANS,
A. BROWN, MADDEN, GUENST, KRAJEWSKI, KINSEY, SMITH-WADE-EL,
D. WILLIAMS, MAYES AND OTTEN, AUGUST 30, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, AUGUST 30, 2023
AN ACT
Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in general administration, providing
for incarcerated people's benefit fund.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 11 of Title 61 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
SUBCHAPTER E
INCARCERATED PEOPLE'S BENEFIT FUND
Sec.
1181. Definitions.
1182. Incarcerated people's benefit fund.
§ 1181. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Fund." An incarcerated people's benefit fund established by
a State or county correctional institution under section 1182
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(relating to incarcerated people's benefit fund).
§ 1182. Incarcerated people's benefit fund.
Each State or county correctional institution shall establish
an incarcerated people's benefit fund and a written policy
specifying the administration of the fund. The chief
administrator or the chief administrator's designee shall
oversee the fund. Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the written policy shall include the following requirements:
(1) The chief administrator or the chief administrator's
designee shall deposit money collected from the sale of
commissary goods, inmate labor, telephone services, Internet
services or any other funding source related to inmate
purchases or labor into the fund.
(2) Money in the fund shall be used solely for the
benefit, education and welfare of inmates confined at the
State or county correctional institution, including the
following:
(i) Providing indigent inmates with essential
clothing and transportation expenses prior to release.
(ii) Providing inmates with special, requested
educational resources, including specialty courses or
materials, that are not covered by the State or county
correctional institution or otherwise prohibited by State
law from being paid as part of the State or county
correctional institution's expenses.
(iii) Holiday decorations or other amenities that
benefit the rehabilitation of inmates.
(iv) Any other expenses that are specifically and
solely used for the benefit, education and welfare of
inmates.
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(3) An independent third party shall audit the fund on
an annual basis and compile a report on each audit.
(4) The chief administrator or the chief administrator's
designee shall maintain a fiscal system that accounts for all
fund revenue and expenditures on an ongoing basis, including
the methods for collecting, safeguarding and disbursing money
from the fund.
(5) Money in the fund may not be used to pay for State
or county correctional institution expenses not specified
under paragraph (2).
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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