We’ve got some good and bad news to share about our work to pass Assembly Bill 746, the bill we’ve been working on with incarcerated folks that would incentivize the development of worker cooperatives inside of California prisons, and establish critical infrastructure to support an ecosystem of cooperatives owned and governed by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, as well as crime survivors. 

Law Center Staff Hope Williams and Hasmik Geghamyan with Leonard Brown, Kelly Groth, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, and Malik Gover

For background: the bill was introduced in February by Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D - Inglewood). It flew through the Assembly Labor & Employment and Public Safety Committees with unanimous support and even gained Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D–San Jose) as a co-author. Unfortunately, AB 746 was “held” in the Appropriations Committee, effectively killing the bill this legislative session. That is the bad news. The good news is that, even though we didn’t get through the third hurdle, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor has committed to reintroducing the bill for the next legislative cycle! Here are some of the many reasons our coalition will keep pushing for this legislation next cycle: 

“Green jobs offer a powerful rehabilitative strategy for all stakeholders… Healing the planet is healing work, and everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in that restoration, both for their communities and for themselves.” - Kelton O’Connor, Executive Director of the Let Us Contribute Initiative (LUCI)

“AB 746 takes a bold and innovative step toward reducing recidivism by establishing the inmate Cooperative program within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. AB 746 is about empowering incarcerated people with the tools they need to rebuild their lives, reduce recidivism, and strengthen communities. You guys, this is such a fantastic bill! I am so excited about this!” - Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D - Inglewood) 

“If legislators want to effect change and break the cycle of poverty and incarceration, they must invest in models that establish autonomy and offer real pathways for transformation.” - Hope Williams, Sustainable Economies Law Center’s Director of Legislative Advocacy

“Having done 32 years of incarceration, it's a hand up, not a handout.” - Leonard Brown, WorkSafe

“I applaud you for yet again thinking outside of the box about how we can build safer communities… ensuring that we really set people up for true rehabilitation and success. I applaud you.” Assemblymember Nick Schultz, Chair of the Public Safety Committee

We want to take a moment to extend our deepest gratitude for everything that you – our friends, colleagues, comrades, and supporters of this work – did to help advance AB 746. Whether you submitted a letter or helped spread the word, your actions have made a difference! We made great strides towards introducing and advancing a policy that would have been a first in the nation; and that's because of you!  We are now in conversation with activists, scholars, and practitioners across the United States and beyond, seeking to launch a community of practice for those creating or supporting worker cooperatives and other cooperatively-run projects by, with, and for individuals who are, or previously were, incarcerated.

Many state bills didn't make it past the Appropriations (aka Budget) Committee this legislative cycle due to various factors, namely a dismal budget outlook for California. We believe that AB 746 would not only save the State of California money, it would generate community wealth and reduce recidivism. We disagree with the fiscal impact analysis that was presented to the Appropriations Committee about AB 746 since similar programs, such as the Joint Venture Program and Inmate Activity Groups already operate inside of California prisons and do not have the costs the analysis claimed our program would incur. While we are disappointed with the inaccurate claims made in the fiscal impact analysis, we look forward to continuing to work with Assemblymember McKinnor and our stakeholders to ensure accurate fiscal impact analysis to prove this legislation will help support California’s economy through job creation, while reducing recidivism.

At the Law Center, we are going to make the most of this moment to double-down on organizing, both inside and outside of prisons, and engage our communities to co-create a more effective policy proposal and campaign together! Transformation takes time, but it also creates space for reflection and collaboration.

Whether we are working toward supporting economic democracy, land justice, or decarceration through legislation, we know that policy change is not a sprint; it is a season (or two!) of planting, tending, and harvesting.

Your advocacy has brought us this far, and we are not finished yet. This is a fight worth continuing and we will take the time this Summer, Fall, and Winter to strengthen this bill, amplify its impact, and build even more community power behind the bill to advance it further next year.

We still need your support! Our partner on this project, the Let Us Contribute Initiative (LUCI), needs your financial support to bring on a staff member to help coordinate the coalition that LUCI is building! Please donate to LUCI so they can continue and expand this important work!

And if you were interested in AB 746, you might be interested in our policy advocacy in San Francisco: We co-wrote the Workers Opportunity to Purchase Act. Check it out on Facebook or on Instagram!