Sec. 33.30.017. - Fees for utilities services for prisoners. - Alaska Statutes

(a) The commissioner shall establish a reasonable utility fee for electrical utilities that are used by prisoners who are confined in a state correctional facility.

(b) The commissioner shall

(1) charge each prisoner who possesses at least one major electrical appliance the utility fee established in (a) of this section; the commissioner may deduct the utility fee monthly from the account established for a prisoner into which money due the prisoner for labor is paid; if a prisoner is indigent, the commissioner shall make the deduction from any amount credited to the indigent inmate's account;

(2) if available from legislative appropriation, expend money deducted and collected under (1) of this subsection to offset the cost of the department's utility expenses; the commissioner shall annually report on the amounts that are collected and expended under this paragraph.

(c) The provisions of (b) of this section do not apply to prisoners

(1) who are

(A) developmentally disabled; or

(B) severely medically or cognitively disabled, as that term is defined in AS 33.16.900 ;

(2) who are housed in a mental health unit or psychiatric unit of a state correctional facility; or

(3) while placed in a state correctional facility awaiting classification under classification procedures for the purpose of making the appropriate assignment of the prisoner.