The bill amends existing provisions related to inmate compensation and the management of funds associated with crime victims' compensation. It establishes that the crime victims' compensation fund will now include not only surcharges and various payments but also interest earned from the fund. The use of this fund is clarified to be exclusively for paying compensation awards, administering the crime victims' compensation program, and reimbursing law enforcement agencies or officers. Additionally, the bill specifies that inmates are liable for various financial obligations incurred while under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, and disbursements from their institutional accounts must be made to cover these obligations.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new requirement that a correctional facility official must deposit twenty-five percent of all compensation earned by an inmate into a personal savings account for the inmate, which cannot be used to cover any obligations. Upon the inmate's discharge, the balance of this savings account will be disbursed to them. The bill also mandates that any interest accrued from these personal savings accounts be deposited quarterly into the crime victims' compensation fund. These changes aim to enhance the financial management of inmate earnings and ensure that funds are appropriately allocated for victim compensation.

Statutes affected:
Introduced, 01/27/2026: 23A-28B-40, 24-2-29, 24-4-9