Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding correctional facilities and prisoners.

An inmate has sued the Board of Correction in federal court alleging a right to paid employment under Section 20-209, Idaho Code, for prisoners in custody of the Board of Correction. On October 31, 2019, a federal judge certified a question to the Idaho Supreme Court asking for the Supreme Court to determine whether the Board of Correction is required to provide employment for all prisoners under that law, and if so, what is the minimum the Board of Correction must do to implement that mandate. On November 26, 2019, the Idaho Supreme Court issued an order accepting the certified question. The question is now pending before the Idaho Supreme Court. This bill seeks to clarify that while the Board of Correction may provide employment to prisoners, that Section 20-209 does not create a right to employment. The bill includes an emergency clause so that it takes effect immediately upon enactment, making the state’s policy clear to the courts in the pending cases.