HLS 14RS-1684 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 34
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH, BARROW, HILL, KATRINA JACKSON, MORENO,
NORTON, ST. GERMAIN, THIERRY, AND WOODRUFF AND SENATORS
BROOME AND PETERSON
CORRECTIONS: Commends DPS&C for transferring certain equipment to the La.
Correctional Institute for Women to begin offering female inmates training programs
for high-demand and high-wage jobs
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To commend the Department of Public Safety and Corrections for moving the mobile2
welding unit from the Louisiana State Penitentiary to the Louisiana Correctional3
Institute for Women to begin offering female inmates education and training4
programs for nontraditional, high-demand, and high-wage jobs.5
WHEREAS, nationally, the wage gap between men and women improved slightly6
from 2011 to 2012 according to the latest United States census data with women now7
earning approximately seventy-eight cents on average to every dollar a man earns; and8
WHEREAS, during this same period of time, despite an increasing number of women9
in the Louisiana workforce (forty-eight percent of full-time, year-round Louisiana labor10
force) according to a report by the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission,11
the gender wage gap in Louisiana actually grew wider with women earning approximately12
sixty-six cents for every dollar earned by a Louisiana man; and13
WHEREAS, engaging women in nontraditional employment, which includes any14
occupation that employs far fewer women than men such as trades, crafts, technology, and15
science fields, offers several benefits that enable women to become economically self-16
sufficient, support their families, and build assets to obtain a home or pursue a higher17
education; and18 HLS 14RS-1684 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 34
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WHEREAS, with more than $60 billion of plant expansions and new plants1
announced in Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research2
Commission report, Louisiana faces an industry demand for more than 86,300 new skilled3
crafts workers through 2016, creating opportunities for women in Louisiana to pursue high-4
wage careers; and5
WHEREAS, according to the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission6
report, researchers have concluded that if more women pursue nontraditional occupations,7
such as those in the skilled crafts, the wage gap between men and women is expected to8
decrease; and9
WHEREAS, pipefitters, boilermakers, carpenters, electricians, instrumentation10
technicians, insulators, ironworkers, millwrights, heavy equipment operators, laborers, sheet11
metal workers, plumbers, and welders will be in high demand in Louisiana; and 12
WHEREAS, over 201,000 women are held in penal institutions throughout the13
United States with female prisoners making up over eight percent of the United States prison14
system; and15
WHEREAS, in 2012, 2,389 women in Louisiana were incarcerated, making up six16
percent of all inmates in Louisiana, and women released from Louisiana state prisons face17
high rates of unemployment and recidivism which reflect the challenge these women face18
in reentering society and assuming mainstream social roles upon their release; and 19
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women (LCIW) is the only20
female correctional facility operating at the state level, and as of October 2013, LCIW only21
offered its female inmates a job and life skills course and upholstery and culinary arts22
training; and23
WHEREAS, until recently, the workforce development programs at LCIW did not24
train female inmates for high-demand careers in contrast to the job training provided at25
men's correctional facilities, which prepare males for more lucrative potential careers upon26
release; and27
WHEREAS, in order to help reduce recidivism and increase employment28
opportunities for incarcerated women upon their release, a high priority must be placed on29 HLS 14RS-1684 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 34
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aligning the educational and training programs at LCIW with high-wage jobs, particularly1
high-demand craft occupations currently driving the Louisiana economy; and 2
WHEREAS, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections announced that it will3
move the mobile welding unit from the Louisiana State Penitentiary to LCIW in April of4
2014 to begin offering female inmates education and training programs in nontraditional,5
high-demand, and high-wage jobs. 6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana, in conjunction7
with the Louisiana Legislative Women's Caucus and the Louisiana Women's Policy and8
Research Commission, does hereby commend the Department of Public Safety and9
Corrections for moving the welding unit from the Louisiana State Penitentiary to the10
Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women to begin offering female inmates education and11
training programs for nontraditional, high-demand, and high-wage jobs.12
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Smith HCR No. 34
In conjunction with the La. Legislative Women's Caucus and the La. Women's Policy and
Research Commission, commends DPS&C for transferring the mobile welding unit from the
La. State Penitentiary to the La. Correctional Institute for Women to begin offering female
inmates education and training programs for nontraditional, high-demand, and high-wage
jobs.