Minnesota Session Laws - 2002, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 322-S.F.No. 2533 
                  An act relating to corrections; authorizing counties 
                  to collect room, board, and other related correctional 
                  expenses for offenders who have been convicted of a 
                  crime and confined in a county jail, workhouse, or 
                  correctional farm in certain instances; amending 
                  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 641.12, subdivision 3.
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 641.12, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [INMATE PAYMENT OF ROOM AND BOARD.] (a) A county 
        board may require that an offender convicted of a crime and 
        confined in the county jail, workhouse, or correctional or work 
        farm pay the cost of the offender's room, board, clothing, 
        medical, dental, and other correctional services.  The board 
        shall establish a schedule to charge offenders under this 
        subdivision.  The costs may be collected at any time while the 
        offender is under sentence or after the sentence has been 
        discharged.  During the period of confinement, the costs may be 
        deducted from any money possessed by the offender or any money 
        deposited with the local correctional or law enforcement agency 
        on the offender's behalf.  The board, or local correctional 
        agency or sheriff with authority over the jail, workhouse, or 
        farm, may use any available civil means of debt collection in 
        collecting costs under this subdivision. 
           (b) The chief executive officer of the local correctional 
        agency or sheriff may waive payment of the costs under this 
        subdivision if the officer or sheriff determines that the 
        offender does not have the ability to pay the costs, payment of 
        the costs would create undue hardship for the offender or the 
        offender's immediate family, the prospects for payment are poor, 
        or there are extenuating circumstances justifying waiver of the 
        costs. 
           (c) If an offender has been ordered by a court to pay 
        restitution, the offender shall be obligated to pay the 
        restitution ordered before paying the costs under this 
        subdivision.  However, if the offender is making reasonable 
        payments to satisfy the restitution obligation, the local 
        correctional agency or sheriff may also collect costs under this 
        section. 
           Presented to the governor April 4, 2002 
           Signed by the governor April 8, 2002, 2:30 p.m.