California Code of Regulations
Title 15 - Crime Prevention and Corrections
Division 3 - Adult Institutions, Programs and Parole
Chapter 1 - Rules and Regulations of Adult Operations and Programs
Article 3 - Work and Education
Section 3041.2 - Incarcerated Person Pay Rates, Schedule and Exceptions

(a) Pay rates at each facility for paid incarcerated person assignments shall be commensurate with the level of skill and productivity required and shall be set with the assistance of the Institutional Incarcerated Pay Committee. Pay rates shall be in accord with the following general pay schedule adopted and revised by the Secretary pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act.

(b) Exceptions to the above schedules may be made in extraordinary circumstances. A wage comparable to that paid to incarcerated persons in the Prison Industry Authority incarcerated person pay program may be paid for special projects or assignments that require a high degree of skill or expertise. Other exceptions may also be made in order to fill positions when recruitment or retention of incarcerated workers is a problem. Any exceptions based upon this subsection shall require approval, review and justification on an annual basis by the institution head and Director of Division of Adult Institutions or designees.

(c) Pay increases shall not be automatic or based on the incarcerated person's longevity in an assignment. Increases or reductions in the pay rate shall be based on available funding, the work/training supervisor's recommendation, and the incarcerated person's work/training performance reports, subject to review and approval of the incarcerated person assignment authority.

(d) Incarcerated persons may receive a pay increase only on a quarterly basis and only until the maximum pay rate for that assignment is obtained.

(e) Incarcerated person performance rating and total hours in job categories shall be reviewed when changes in job classifications are being considered. Incarcerated persons approved for advancement to a higher skill classification shall enter the new classification at a pay grade equal or greater to their previous pay grade in the lower skill, unless the new assignment is to a non-paid position.

(f) The reason for any reduction in an incarcerated person's pay rate, including either removing the pay status or decreasing the pay level from an assigned position or reassigning the incarcerated person to a non-paid or lower paid position, shall be documented in the incarcerated person's central file as follows: