§855. Road, street, highway, right of way maintenance and litter removal, weed cutting, drug free school zone sign posting, and solid waste recycling programs by convict labor; indemnification

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 15:1111, the wardens of state correctional facilities are authorized to assign convict labor from the correctional facilities as required in accordance with this Section to:

(1) Work and maintain, except for construction, parish roads, and rights of way not under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and Development, and to police and remove litter on public grounds, rights of way, lakes, streams, and the shores of lakes and streams.

(2) Police and remove litter on highways, rights of way, and road shoulders under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation and Development.

(3) Work in solid waste recycling programs under the auspices of a state agency or political subdivision as approved by the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

(4) Assist the governing authority of any municipality to maintain the municipality in a safe and sanitary condition by cutting, destroying, or removing noxious weeds or grass or other deleterious, unhealthful, or noxious growths on any sidewalks or banquettes and on any lot, place, or area within the municipality.

B.(1) The wardens shall furnish such convict labor when available and as authorized herein for all state, municipal, and parish roads, highways, streets, and rights of way when requested by the sheriff, municipal police, or governing authority of the parish or municipality in which the road, highway, street, or right of way is located. The wardens shall also furnish such convict labor when available and as authorized herein for state highways, road shoulders, and rights of way when requested by the Department of Transportation and Development. The department or parish or municipal governing authority or sheriff or municipal police shall not request such convict labor unless it has first certified that there are no free workers displaced because the convict labor is used. All work performed by convicts herein shall be without charge or expense to the department or parish or municipal governing authority or the sheriff or municipal police, except for transportation costs of the work unit, incentive pay as determined by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and road materials used in the work and maintenance of the state, municipal, or parish streets, roads, highways, or rights of way.

(2) The wardens shall also furnish available convict labor for the painting of markings and posting of signs indicating drug-free school zones pursuant to R.S. 17:405 and firearm-free zones pursuant to R.S. 14:95.6 when requested by a parish or city school board. All such work performed by convicts herein shall be without charge or expense to the school board, except for transportation costs of the work unit and the costs of signs and painting materials.

(3) The wardens shall also furnish available convict labor for solid waste recycling programs administered by a state agency or political subdivision and approved by the secretary of the department when requested by the agency or political subdivision. All such work performed by convicts herein shall be without charge or expense to the program, except for actual direct costs of the work unit.

(4)(a) The wardens may furnish such convict labor when available and as authorized herein to the governing authority of any municipality to maintain the municipality in a safe and sanitary condition by cutting, destroying, or removing noxious weeds or grass or other deleterious, unhealthful, or noxious growths on any sidewalks or banquettes and on any lot, place, or area within the municipality. The governing authority of the municipality shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 33:5062 and all other relevant provisions of law. R.S. 33:815 and 4766 are not affected by the provisions of this Paragraph. The Department of Transportation and Development is excluded from this Paragraph and is subject to the requirements of R.S. 48:261(B), (C), and (D) and all other relevant provisions of law.

(b) The use of prison labor shall in no way reduce the work force of any highway maintenance gang or cause the layoff of any classified employee.

(c) The Department of Public Safety and Corrections shall not be liable for any loss sustained by any such prisoner, except for those caused by the gross negligence or intentional acts of the warden, an assistant warden, or an employee of the department.

C. No more than one work unit composed of no more than twenty convicts shall be furnished by the warden in response to any request herein. Such work unit shall include sufficient guards and foremen as determined by the warden to be necessary to control the work unit. All convicts in such work unit shall be at least eighteen years of age.

D. The political subdivision which administers the solid waste recycling program shall indemnify and hold the sheriff, the state, and the state agency harmless for any injury caused by the inmate, unless the gross negligence or intentional act of the sheriff or the state or the state agency was a substantial factor in causing the injury.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 321, §1; Acts 1985, No. 114, §1, eff. June 29, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 283, §1; Acts 1989, No. 768, §1; Acts 1990, No. 416, §1; Acts 1992, No. 197, §2; Acts 1992, No. 402, §1.