A BILL for an Act to amend and reenact subsection 2 of section 12-48-03.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the sale of products made in prison industries.
SB2066 would amend North Dakota law governing the sale of products made in prison industries. The bill keeps the existing framework that allows prison-made goods to be purchased directly by governmental agencies for official use and by certain nonprofit organizations, and it continues to allow sales of commissary items and prison-made clothing to inmates. It also preserves the ability of prison industries to sell products through wholesale or retail outlets with a valid sales tax permit, and, for products made under the federal prison industries enhancement certification program, to participate in interstate commerce and export sales.
The bill adds or clarifies that prison industries-made products may be sold to state employees within North Dakota for personal use. In practical terms, the measure would expand or expressly authorize a customer category for prison industries products while leaving the broader structure of permitted buyers and sales channels intact. Because the bill failed, the current statute remains unchanged.
If enacted, SB2066 would have amended Section 12-48-03.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, which regulates who may buy products made in prison industries and through what channels those products may be sold. The main legal effect would be to expressly permit sales to state employees for personal use, alongside existing authorized sales to government agencies, certain nonprofits, inmates, licensed wholesale/retail outlets, and certain interstate or export markets. Since the bill failed, no statutory change resulted and the existing restrictions and permissions remain in place.
The available record suggests the bill was a straightforward administrative or policy adjustment rather than a highly controversial measure. It was introduced by the Industry and Business Committee at the request of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which indicates agency support or at least agency-driven interest in the change. However, there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes in the provided material, so there is no evidence of detailed debate, organized opposition, or strong public sentiment either for or against the bill.
The only notable policy issue apparent from the text is the expansion of permissible purchasers to include state employees for personal use. Supporters would likely view that as a modest market expansion for prison industries products, while critics could question whether state employees should receive access to prison-made goods for private purchases or whether that creates an appearance of preferential treatment. The bill also continues exclusions for trade associations, fraternal organizations, co-ops, and health insurance companies, but the record provided does not show any specific dispute over those categories.