Colorado Inmates Subject to Minimum Wage, Wage Payment Rules

Colorado inmates are subject to new minimum-wage and wage-payment laws under a bill (S.B. 22-050) Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed March 30.

The bill went into effect March 30.

Internal and External Programs

Colorado inmates are entitled to the state minimum wage when they are employed by private entities under an external program, the bill states.

Colorado’s current minimum wage is $12.56 per hour, and the current federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.

Internal and external programs are rehabilitation and work programs administered by the state’s correctional industries division, the bill states. Internal programs are in state ...