California voters to weigh proposal to ban forced prison labor in state constitution

Associated Press/Report for America

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California Legislature has approved a proposal to remove an exemption for involuntary servitude from the state constitution. The proposal approved Thursday will now head to voters in November. California’s state constitution bans involuntary servitude except as a punishment for crime. Several states have in recent years approved amendments to their constitutions to remove slavery and involuntary servitude exemptions. Democrats in Congress have failed to pass a similar proposed change to the U.S. Constitution. California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration previously opposed the change to the state constitution. The administration argued it could cost the state billions of dollars if it had to pay people who are incarcerated the minimum wage.