Pennsylvania HB2154: An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority; providing for employment of incarcerated individuals by private industry and for subcontracts with correctional agencies; establishing guidelines for incarcerated individual compensation; and providing for location of private sector prison industry.

What the bill says

Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority; providing for employment of incarcerated individuals by private industry and for subcontracts with correctional agencies; establishing guidelines for incarcerated individual compensation; and providing for location of private sector prison industry.

From the introduced text, January 22, 2026:

Amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, establishing the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority; providing for employment of incarcerated individuals by private industry and for subcontracts with correctional agencies; establishing guidelines for incarcerated individual compensation; and providing for location of private sector prison industry. The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows: Section 1. Title 61 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read: CHAPTER 19 PRISON INDUSTRY ENHANCEMENT AUTHORITY Sec. 1901. Scope of chapter. 1902. Intent. 1903. Definitions. 1904. Prison Industry Enhancement Authority. 1905. Powers and duties of authority. 1906. Cooperation with private industry. 1907. Minimum requirements of private sector prison industry. 1908. Wages and deductions. 1909. Administrative support. 1910. Immunities not waived. 1911. Civil actions. 1912. Construction of chapter. 1913. Monetary limitations. § 1901. Scope of chapter. This chapter relates to the Prison Industry Enhancement Authority. § 1902. Intent. It is the intent of the General Assembly that joint ventures between correctional facilities and private industry be established so that incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities be productively engaged. Private industry in this Commonwealth will gain access to an expanded labor force while not displacing job opportunities for civilian labor in the community. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to authorize the privatization of correctional facilities …