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               ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5936

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State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Human Services & Corrections (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl, Long, Hargrove, Franklin, Bauer and Rasmussen)

Read first time 03/05/97.

Requiring a report on alternatives for increasing offender access to postsecondary academic and vocational opportunities. 

    AN ACT Relating to offender education; amending RCW 72.09.480; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The department shall prepare and submit a report to the legislature not later than December 1, 1998, on alternatives for increasing offender access to postsecondary academic education and vocational opportunities.  In preparing the report, the department shall consult with representatives from the community colleges and other educational service providers currently contracting with the department.

    (2) The report shall present alternatives for increasing access within existing resources as well as alternatives that may require additional funding.

    (3) At a minimum, the report shall include the following:

    (a) A plan, to be implemented within existing resources, for pilot projects utilizing fee-based programs for postsecondary academic and vocational study.  The pilot projects shall offer instruction in academic subjects and employment skills not presently available at the pilot institutions.  Fees charged for the pilot programs shall be consistent with the provisions of RCW 72.09.460;

    (b) Recommendations on approaches to facilitate offender access to postsecondary academic correspondence courses and video telecourses; and

    (c) Recommendations on the feasibility and desirability of connecting department facilities to the K-20 technology network.

    Sec. 2.  RCW 72.09.480 and 1997 c 165 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply to this section.

    (a) "Cost of incarceration" means the cost of providing an inmate with shelter, food, clothing, transportation, supervision, and other services and supplies as may be necessary for the maintenance and support of the inmate while in the custody of the department, based on the average per inmate costs established by the department and the office of financial management.

    (b) "Minimum term of confinement" means the minimum amount of time an inmate will be confined in the custody of the department, considering the sentence imposed and adjusted for the total potential earned early release time available to the inmate.

    (2) When an inmate receives any funds in addition to his or her wages or gratuities, the additional funds shall be subject to the deductions in RCW 72.09.111(1)(a) and the priorities established in chapter 72.11 RCW.

    (3) The amount deducted from an inmate's funds under subsection (2) of this section shall not exceed the department's total cost of incarceration for the inmate incurred during the inmate's minimum or actual term of confinement, whichever is longer.

(4) The deductions required under subsection (2) of this section shall not apply to funds received by the department on behalf of an offender for payment of one fee-based education or vocational program that is associated with an inmate's work program or a placement decision made by the department under RCW 72.09.460 to prepare an inmate for  work upon release.

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