HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1026        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1442

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act relative to the alleviation of costs incurred while housing prisoners in the Commonwealth. ..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.   Section 1 of chapter 124 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following new subsection:—

(v)  adopt policies and procedures, in consultation with the county sheriffs, establishing an optional fee, of a maximum of $5, to be paid by inmates for daily room and board at any county or state correctional facility. Based on an inmate’s ability to pay, the commissioner or a county sheriff may charge each inmate a reasonable daily room and board fee on a sliding scale. The commissioner of corrections may deduct such fee from the inmate's account as provided for in section 48A of chapter 127.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, room and board shall not be denied if the inmate is incapable of paying the daily room and board fee.