Skip to main content
HR 3776 104th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Arts, Culture, Religion Cable television Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Commerce Compensation for victims of crime Corrections Costs Drug abuse Drug testing Economics and Public Finance Electric appliances Families Fines (Penalties) Foreign Trade and International Finance Gangs Government trust funds Health Imports Imprisonment

Prison Work and Victim Restitution Act of 1996

Introduced: July 10, 1996 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 4, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Jul 30, 1996
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Jul 11, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1246-1247)
Jul 10, 1996
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 10, 1996
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Prison Work and Victim Restitution Act of 1996 - Amends the Crime Control Act of 1990 to require convicted inmates confined in Federal prisons, jails, and other detention facilities to engage in: (1) work for no fewer than 50 hours weekly; and (2) job-training and educational and life skills preparation study. Allows nonprofit entities to utilize the services of prisoners if opportunities otherwise provided by law for inmates to work are insufficient to meet such requirements.

Authorizes the Attorney General to: (1) make prisoners available to for-profit American entities either located in a foreign country or considering moving to a foreign country because of high domestic labor costs, subject to specified requirements; and (2) provide incentives to such entities, such as the use of space and facilities in Federal prisons at a free or reduced rate.

Directs the Attorney General to make rules governing the provision of services by inmates to such nonprofit and for-profit entities.

Establishes in the Treasury a Fund into which shall be placed all proceeds and wages from prison labor. Directs that such Fund be used: (1) to offset the costs of prisoner incarceration (one third); (2) for victim restitution (one third); (3) for payment into the individual prisoner's account to be paid upon his or her release (one tenth); and (4) for payments to States with prison work requirements that are substantially the same as Federal requirements for programs to benefit the dependents of prisoners.

Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to exclude prisoners from the term "employee" for purposes of such Acts.

Directs the Bureau of Prisons to ensure that Federal prisoners: (1) are subject to regular and random testing for drugs and illegal substances; (2) do not engage in specified activities, such as smoking, viewing pornographic materials, or sexual activity; and (3) do not possess microwave ovens, hot plates, toaster overs, televisions, or VCRs.

Repeals the limitation on the number of non-Federal prison work pilot projects with respect to which penalties for transporting in interstate commerce or importing from any foreign country into the United States goods, wares, or merchandise manufactured, produced, or mined wholly or in part by convicts or prisoners are inapplicable.

What's happening now September 4, 1996

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4