Despite voters' rejection of a ballot measure last fall to amend the state constitution to abolish involuntary prison labor, Assembly Member Isaac Bryan of Los Angeles believes he can get two bills passed that would improve wages for individuals inside jail and prison.

His Assembly Bill 247 would impose $19 per hour pay for incarcerated firefighters whenever their work assignment places them in active fire incidents.

The other measure, AB 248, would remove a decades-old statewide wage cap of $2 per eight-hour shift for county jail inmate workers, many of whom have not been convicted of any crimes and are awaiting trial.

The California Supreme Court determined last year that county jail inmate workers are not entitled to state minimum wage requirements.

The California State Sheriffs' Association opposes the bill and said in a letter to the Assembly Public Safety Committee that it would create pressure on counties to increase the fiscal recompense provided to inmate workers, thereby potentially limiting the availability of opportunities for work while incarcerated.

Bryan noted that his county jail wage bill carries zero fiscal liability and therefore does not need to pass an appropriations committee The Anti-Recidivism Coalition supports both of Bryan's bills and co-sponsored AB 247.

In addition to their overall advocacy for renewed anti-slavery legislation, voters rejected AB 2024's similar Proposition 6, but the measure will most likely resurface on a 2026 ballot.

"Depriving incarcerated laborers of any substantial wage limits their ability to pay court-mandated victims' restitution fees," Bryan said.

"Despite working full-time and often even overtime seven days a week, many prisoners continue to carry the debt of restitution.

It is a relic of slavery for sure," said Bryan.

For CalMatters, I'm Joe Garcia.