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SR 53

A Resolution designating the month of March 2025 as "Disabilities Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Boscola and 19 co-sponsors

SR 53 urges Congress to amend the 13th Amendment to ban slavery, indentured servitude, and involuntary prison labor, reshaping inmate work and private-prison contracts nationwide.

Referred to Rules & Executive Nominations
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Bill Summary · SR 53

Summary — SR 53

Title: Urges Congress to propose amendment to United States Constitution to prohibit use of slavery or indentured servitude for individuals convicted of crime
Classification: Senate resolution (memorializing/constitutional)
Introduced: August 25, 2025 — Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
Sponsors (selected): Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (primary) and multiple state senators (see bill record)
Related: SCR 69 (companion); LC 4418 (replaces)

Purpose / Intent

SR 53 is a non‑binding state Senate resolution urging the United States Congress to propose a constitutional amendment that would remove the existing exception in the Thirteenth Amendment permitting “slavery involuntary servitude” as punishment for a crime. The resolution frames this change as necessary to eliminate forced or extremely low‑paid labor tied to incarceration and to address alleged economic and civil‑rights harms tied to prison labor and private corrections.

Key provisions

  • States the intent that Congress propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibiting slavery, indentured servitude, and involuntary servitude “within the United States or any of its territories,” with no exception for criminal punishment.
  • Recites findings and supporting facts included in the resolution text, such as:
    • The U.S. holds roughly 25% of the world’s incarcerated population (approximately 2.3 million people).
    • A share of prisoners are in private correctional facilities (the text cites ~20% of federal and 7% of state prisoners).
    • The private prison industry is valued in the text at $4.8 billion.
    • Average incarcerated worker wages cited at $0.93 per hour and examples of unpaid or extremely low‑paid labor (including a California example of $2/day wages and $58 million in prison labor profit).
  • Directs transmittal of copies of the resolution to the President of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the U.S. House, and the congressional delegation from the state.

Who would be affected

  • Directly: incarcerated individuals nationwide (work programs and compensation rules), private prison operators, correctional agencies that rely on inmate labor.
  • Indirectly: contractors, industries that currently use prison labor or contracts with correctional institutions, state and federal prison budgets, and policy makers who would need to craft implementing legislation if an amendment were adopted.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • SR 53 itself does not change federal law; it is a memorializing resolution urging Congress to act.
  • A constitutional amendment requires a two‑thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by three‑quarters of state legislatures (or a constitutional convention called by states).
  • The resolution was introduced August 25, 2025 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee (per bill information). If adopted by this body, copies would be transmitted to federal leaders as stated.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Symbolically, the resolution adds pressure and public attention to calls for eliminating the criminal‑punishment exception in the Thirteenth Amendment.
  • If Congress and the states pursue and approve an amendment, implementing federal and state laws would be required to: reframe prison labor practices, revise existing contracts, set wage/compensation standards, and transition programs that currently rely on inmate labor.
  • Achieving a constitutional amendment is a high constitutional threshold; political, legal, fiscal, and operational implications for correctional systems would require detailed policymaking and funding decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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