Oregon Protecting Business and Government Programs From Prison Work Programs, Ballot Measure 68 (1999)

Oregon Ballot Measure 68 (1999) or House Joint Resolution (HJR) 82 is a legislatively-referred constitutional amendment that was on the 1999 ballot in Oregon. It directed the Director of the Department of Corrections, to the extent possible, to avoid establishing for-profit prison work programs that would displace or reduce:

1. Preexisting private jobs or businesses; or

2. Government or nonprofit programs that employ persons with developmental disabilities.

This measure expands the allowable uses of inmate work to include supporting community charitable organizations.

Currently, the Constitution requires that prison work programs must achieve net cost savings in maintaining government operations or a net profit in private sector activities. This measure allows prison work programs to benefit the community without a requirement of net cost savings or net profit.

This measure passed at the November 1999 Special Election, with 58.4% of favor among voters.

Election results

Oregon Measure 68
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		406,526	58.4%
No		289,407	41.6%

Ballot title

HJR 82 - Amends Constitution: Allows Protecting Business, Certain Government Programs From Prison Work Programs

Support

Kevin Mannix supported this measure after proposing Measure 17 in 1994, which passed, requiring state prisoners to work full-time and requiring that income from their work be used to pay for their incarceration, pay restitution to victims, pay fines, and provide for family support obligations. He supported Measure 68 as an improvement to his previous measure, because it provides accountability to one person, the Director of Corrections, and because the Director may consider the impact of prison work on the private sector and on programs employing persons with developmental disabilities.

Many supporters believed that working prisoners should not be taking jobs away from law-abiding citizens.

Some of the other supporters included:

• National Electrical Contractors Association
• Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council
• Oregon AFSCME Council 75
• Multnomah County Democratic Central Committee

Opposition

No information yet

See also

Suggest a link

• 1999 ballot measures
• Oregon 1999 ballot measures
• 1999 ballot measures
• Procedures for qualifying an initiative in Oregon
• Laws governing the initiative process in Oregon

External links

• Oregon Measure 68 1999 Guide
• Measure 68 Election Results

References

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