§ 57-545 — Employment of inmates - Claims against inmates.

A. Any inmate employed by any prison industry shall be subject to all rules established for his employment by the State Board of Corrections and to all statutes governing the operation of state prison industries as well as by all laws generally governing employment, wages and working conditions except as provided for herein. B. Inmates employed by prison industries are not state employees, and they are specifically forbidden from organizing into unions or other associations in connection with their employment or from engaging in any strike, work stoppage, slowdown or collective bargaining process. This prohibition applies to any inmates forming a union local or similar organization at any prison industry but it shall not prohibit any inmate from otherwise achieving or retaining status as a union member. C. The claims of the state against an inmate to cover the costs of incarceration of an inmate shall be prior to the unsecured claims of any creditor. D. The employment of any inmate by any prison industry is a privilege granted by the state which may be revoked by the Director of the Department of Corrections. E. As used in subsection C of this section, "costs of incarceration" shall include all costs associated with maintaining an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections and shall include costs paid by the state for medical care for the inmate.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1977, c. 119, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1977. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 111, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.