Louisiana lawmakers expand inmate labor use for construction

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Louisiana lawmakers have agreed to allow state prisoners to do construction work at the state Capitol complex and the corrections department’s headquarters.
  
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the measure by Rep. Kenny Havard, a St. Francisville Republican, into law.
  
Much of the work already is being done. Havard said he was clarifying it’s legal.
  
Inmates do custodial work on state grounds and in state buildings, such as the Louisiana Capitol and the governor’s mansion.
  
Havard’s bill deals with inmate construction work, which is allowed at state prisons and correctional facilities, with restrictions. That work will be explicitly allowed at all corrections buildings and the Capitol.
  
NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports inmates are paid between 4 and 70 cents per hour or earn credit toward an earlier release.