RCW 72.09.450
Limitation on denial of access to services and supplies—Recoupment of assessments—Collections.
(1) An inmate shall not be denied access to services or supplies required by state or federal law solely on the basis of his or her inability to pay for them.
(2) The department shall record all lawfully authorized assessments for services or supplies as a debt to the department. The department shall recoup the assessments when the inmate's institutional account exceeds the indigency standard, and may pursue other remedies to recoup the assessments after the period of incarceration.
(3) The department shall record as a debt any costs assessed by a court against an inmate plaintiff where the state is providing defense pursuant to chapter 4.92 RCW. The department shall recoup the debt when the inmate's institutional account exceeds the indigency standard and may pursue other remedies to recoup the debt after the period of incarceration.
(4) In order to maximize the cost-efficient collection of unpaid offender debt existing after the period of an offender's incarceration, the department is authorized to use the following nonexclusive options: (a) Use the collection services available through the department of enterprise services, or (b) notwithstanding any provision of chapter 41.06 RCW, contract with collection agencies for collection of the debts. The costs for enterprise services or collection agency services shall be paid by the debtor. Any contract with a collection agency shall only be awarded after competitive bidding. Factors the department shall consider in awarding a collection contract include but are not limited to a collection agency's history and reputation in the community; and the agency's access to a local database that may increase the efficiency of its collections. The servicing of an unpaid obligation to the department does not constitute assignment of a debt, and no contract with a collection agency may remove the department's control over unpaid obligations owed to the department.
[ 2015 c 225 § 113; 1996 c 277 § 1; 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 4.]
NOTES:
Findings—Purpose—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "The legislature finds the increasing number of inmates incarcerated in state correctional institutions, and the expenses associated with their incarceration, require expanded efforts to contain corrections costs. Cost containment requires improved planning and oversight, and increased accountability and responsibility on the part of inmates and the department.
The legislature further finds motivating inmates to participate in meaningful education and work programs in order to learn transferable skills and earn basic privileges is an effective and efficient way to meet the penological objectives of the corrections system.
The purpose of this act is to assure that the department fulfills its mission to reduce offender recidivism, to mirror the values of the community by clearly linking inmate behavior to receipt of privileges, and to prudently manage the resources it receives through tax dollars. This purpose is accomplished through the implementation of specific cost-control measures and creation of a planning and oversight process that will improve the department's effectiveness and efficiencies." [ 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 1.]
Short title—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "This act shall be known as the department of corrections cost-efficiency and inmate responsibility omnibus act." [ 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 37.]
Severability—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected." [ 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 38.]
Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately [June 15, 1995]." [ 1995 1st sp.s. c 19 § 40.]
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 72.09 - Department of Corrections.
72.09.010 - Legislative intent.
72.09.030 - Department created—Secretary.
72.09.040 - Transfer of functions from department of social and health services.
72.09.050 - Powers and duties of secretary.
72.09.055 - Affordable housing—Inventory of suitable property.
72.09.057 - Fees for reproduction, shipment, and certification of documents and records.
72.09.060 - Organization of department—Program for public involvement and volunteers.
72.09.070 - Correctional industries advisory committee—Recommendations.
72.09.090 - Correctional industries account—Expenditure—Profits—Appropriations.
72.09.095 - Transfer of funds to department of labor and industries for crime victims' compensation.
72.09.100 - Inmate work program—Classes of work programs—Participation—Benefits.
72.09.101 - Inmate work program—Administrators' duty.
72.09.104 - Prison work programs to operate automated data input and retrieval systems.
72.09.106 - Subcontracting of data input and microfilm capacities.
72.09.116 - Information obtained under RCW 72.09.115 exempt from public disclosure.
72.09.120 - Distribution of list of inmate job opportunities.
72.09.130 - Incentive system for participation in education and work programs—Rules—Dissemination.
72.09.135 - Adoption of standards for correctional facilities.
72.09.190 - Legal services for inmates.
72.09.200 - Transfer of files, property, and appropriations.
72.09.210 - Transfer of employees.
72.09.220 - Employee rights under collective bargaining.
72.09.225 - Sexual misconduct by state employees, contractors.
72.09.230 - Duties continued during transition.
72.09.240 - Reimbursement of employees for offender assaults.
72.09.251 - Communicable disease prevention guidelines.
72.09.260 - Litter cleanup programs—Requirements.
72.09.270 - Individual reentry plan.
72.09.275 - Duty to notify of process for restoration of voting rights.
72.09.280 - Community justice centers.
72.09.285 - Rental voucher list—Housing providers.
72.09.290 - Correctional facility siting list.
72.09.300 - Local law and justice council—Rules.
72.09.310 - Community custody violator.
72.09.311 - Confinement of community custody violators.
72.09.315 - Court-ordered treatment—Violations—Required notifications.
72.09.320 - Community placement—Liability.
72.09.333 - Sex offenders—Facilities on McNeil Island.
72.09.335 - Sex offenders—Treatment assessment and opportunity.
72.09.337 - Sex offenders—Rules regarding.
72.09.380 - Rule making—Medicaid—Secretary of corrections—Director of health care authority.
72.09.400 - Work ethic camp program—Findings—Intent.
72.09.410 - Work ethic camp program—Generally.
72.09.465 - Postsecondary degree education programs.
72.09.467 - Postsecondary degree education programs—Reports to the legislature.
72.09.469 - Postsecondary degree education programs—Study.
72.09.470 - Inmate contributions for cost of privileges—Standards.
72.09.490 - Policy on extended family visitation.
72.09.495 - Incarcerated parents—Policies to encourage family contact and engagement.
72.09.500 - Prohibition on weight-lifting.
72.09.520 - Limitation on purchase of televisions.
72.09.530 - Prohibition on receipt or possession of contraband—Rules.
72.09.540 - Inmate name change—Limitations on use—Penalty.
72.09.560 - Camp for alien offenders.
72.09.580 - Offender records and reports.
72.09.588 - Pregnant inmates—Midwifery or doula services—Reasonable accommodations.
72.09.600 - Rules—Chapter 196, Laws of 1999.
72.09.620 - Extraordinary medical placement—Reports.
72.09.630 - Custodial sexual misconduct—Investigation of allegations.
72.09.650 - Use of force by limited authority Washington peace officers—Detention of persons.
72.09.670 - Gang involvement among incarcerated offenders—Intervention programs—Study.
72.09.680 - Statewide security advisory committee.
72.09.682 - Multidisciplinary teams—Inmate job assignments.
72.09.684 - Training curriculum—Safety issues—Total confinement correctional facilities.
72.09.686 - Body alarms and proximity cards—Study and report.
72.09.688 - Video monitoring cameras—Study and report.
72.09.690 - Pepper spray—Plan for use.
72.09.710 - Drug offenders—Notice of release or escape.
72.09.716 - Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Requests for notification.
72.09.718 - Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Notification as additional requirement.
72.09.720 - Prisoner escape, release, or furlough—Consequences of failure to notify.
72.09.730 - Schools—Notice to designated recipient of offender release.
72.09.745 - Security threat groups—Information collection.
72.09.750 - Access to reentry programs and services for wrongly convicted persons.
72.09.755 - Department of corrections—Use of screening and assessment process.
72.09.760 - Facility commissary program—Access.
72.09.765 - Inmate access to telecommunication services—Contracting—Reporting.
72.09.770 - Unexpected fatality review—Records—Discovery.
72.09.775 - Body scanner program—Report to the governor and legislature.
72.09.900 - Effective date—1981 c 136.
72.09.902 - Construction—1981 c 136.
72.09.903 - Savings—1981 c 136.
72.09.904 - Construction—1999 c 196.
72.09.905 - Short title—1999 c 196.
72.09.906 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.