Inmate wages.

The employer of an inmate involved in the work release program shall pay the inmate's wages direct to the board. The board may adopt regulations concerning the disbursement of any earnings of the inmates involved in the work release program. The board is authorized to withhold from an inmate's earnings 20 percent of his or her gross earnings to pay such cost incident to the inmate's confinement. After 20 percent has been deducted from the inmate's gross pay, the remainder of the inmate's earnings shall be credited to his or her account in a local bank, and upon his or her release from confinement shall be turned over to the inmate. The board may elect, however, to pay the remaining 80 percent of the inmate's earnings to his or her family to be used by them for their support while the inmate is confined, provided the inmate consents to such payment.

(Act 80-512, p. 791, § 4.)