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California voters to weigh in on ending forced labor in prison
The California Medical Facility in Vacaville is one of two state prisons where a nonprofit called PRIDE Industries hires outside workers for custodial services.
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Rich Pedroncelli
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AP Photo
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Topline:
California voters will decide if the state constitution should be changed to ban slavery in any form, including forced labor for incarcerated people, which is currently carved out as an exception.
Why now: The state Senate approved ACA 8, the End Slavery in California Act, on Thursday in a 33 to 3 vote, with senators Brian Dahle, Roger Niello, and Kelly Seyarto voting against it.
The state Assembly agreed with the senate amendments in a 66 to 0 vote shortly after, sending ACA 8 to the secretary of state and the November ballot.
Why it matters: The California Constitution bans slavery and involuntary servitude — “except to punish crime.”
If approved by voters, the state constitution would be amended to ban slavery in any form, and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation wouldn’t be able to discipline people in prison for refusing a work assignment.
The backstory: The End Slavery in California Act was originally introduced as ACA 3 in 2020, but it died in the Senate about two years later.
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Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson, who represents Sacramento and Solano counties in Northern California and is chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, introduced ACA 8 last February, and it cleared a critical hurdle in the Senate Public Safety Committee earlier this month.
The response: Wilson said on the Assembly floor that it’s a step toward restoring some dignity and humanity for the often forgotten individuals behind bars.
“The legacy of slavery and forced labor runs deep in California's history,” she said. “From the exploitation of Indigenous people in Spanish missions, to Black slaves forced to mine for gold. Today, we have an opportunity to take a step in the direction towards ending that legacy.”
What's next: Voters will get to weigh in on Nov. 5.
Go deeper: Learn more about what’s at stake.
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