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Dann Seeks to Stop Prison Labor in Bid Contracts
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- State Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32, has introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of prison labor in state contracts. "All other workers in Ohio are required to obtain a license in order to assist in the removal of asbestos -- but prisoners are not," Dann said in a news release issued by his office today. "This is an instance in which the state is compromising the well-being of the prisoners, the safety of the community and the jobs of skilled Ohioans, just to save a buck or two."Currently, state contracts are required to be competitively bid. The bill, SB 254, would specifically affect the employment of prison laborers in both public and private entities in construction and trade industries on jobs subject to competitive bidding requirements. Dann said the issue came to his attention last December during the asbestos removal from the vacant Edison Junior High School in Niles. According to a memo from the Legislative Service Commission, the Ohio School Facilities Commission, which is overseeing the project, is an entity of the state and subject to competitive bidding laws. However, the commission is also subject to another provision in state law, which requires the state to purchase products of Ohio Prison Industries, when available. Dann's bill clarifies that state entities are not to consider services as products and will not employ any prisoner in "any job in the construction industry or in any type of job that offers an apprenticeship program" that is subject to the apprenticeship Law. Tom Warga, business manager of Laborers' International Union of North America, Local Union No. 125 of Youngstown, said the legislation is long overdue. "Jobs should not be taken by criminals," Warga said. "It is wrong that prisoners are working while the average person on the street is looking for a job." SB 254 is companion legislation to HB 196, introduced by State Rep. Ken Carano of Austintown, D-59, in May 2003. "