The legislature finds and declares that the establishment of prison work programs that allow prisoners to undertake food fish, shellfish, and game fish rearing projects and game bird and game animal improvement, restoration, and protection projects is needed to reduce idleness, promote the growth of prison industries, and provide prisoners with skills necessary for their successful reentry into society.
[ 1985 c 286 § 1; ]
The departments of corrections and fish and wildlife shall establish at or near appropriate state institutions, as defined in RCW 72.65.010, prison work programs that use prisoners to undertake state food fish, shellfish, and game fish rearing projects and state game bird and game animal improvement, restoration, and protection projects and that meet the requirements of RCW 72.09.100.
The department of corrections shall seek to identify a group of prisoners at each appropriate state institution, as defined by RCW 72.65.010, that are interested in participating in prison work programs established by this chapter.
If the department of corrections is unable to identify a group of prisoners to participate in work programs authorized by this chapter, it may enter into an agreement with the department of fish and wildlife for the purpose of designing projects for any institution. Costs under this section shall be borne by the department of corrections.
The departments of corrections and fish and wildlife shall use prisoners, where appropriate, to perform work in state projects that may include the following types:
Food fish, shellfish, and game fish rearing projects, including but not limited to egg planting, egg boxes, juvenile planting, pen rearing, pond rearing, raceway rearing, and egg taking;
Game bird and game animal projects, including but not limited to habitat improvement and restoration, replanting and transplanting, nest box installation, pen rearing, game protection, and supplemental feeding: PROVIDED, That no project shall be established at the department of fish and wildlife's south Tacoma game farm;
Manufacturing of equipment for use in fish and game volunteer cooperative projects permitted by the department of fish and wildlife, or for use in prison work programs with fish and game; and
Maintenance, repair, restoration, and redevelopment of facilities operated by the department of fish and wildlife.
[ 1994 c 264 § 43; 1988 c 36 § 29; 1985 c 286 § 2; ]
The department of fish and wildlife shall provide professional assistance from biologists, fish culturists, pathologists, engineers, habitat managers, and other departmental staff to assist the development and productivity of prison work programs under RCW 72.63.020, upon agreement with the department of corrections.
The department of fish and wildlife shall identify and describe potential and pilot projects that are compatible with the goals of the various departments involved and that are particularly suitable for prison work programs.
The department of fish and wildlife may make available surplus hatchery rearing space, net pens, egg boxes, portable rearing containers, incubators, and any other departmental facilities or property that are available for loan to the department of corrections to carry out prison work programs under RCW 72.63.020.
The department of fish and wildlife shall provide live fish eggs, bird eggs, juvenile fish, game animals, or other appropriate seed stock, juveniles, or brood stock of acceptable disease history and genetic composition for the prison work projects at no cost to the department of corrections, to the extent that such resources are available. Fish food, bird food, or animal food may be provided by the department of fish and wildlife to the extent that funding is available.
The department of natural resources shall assist in the implementation of the program where project sites are located on public beaches or state owned aquatic lands.
[ 1994 c 264 § 44; 1988 c 36 § 30; 1985 c 286 § 3; ]
The costs of implementation of the projects prescribed by this chapter shall be supported to the extent that funds are available under the provisions of chapter 77.100 RCW, and from correctional industries funds.
[ 2003 c 39 § 31; 1989 c 185 § 13; 1985 c 286 § 4; ]