(a) The earnings of an offender employed under this chapter shall be surrendered to the department. This amount shall be distributed in the following order:

1. (1) Not less than twenty percent (20%) of the offender's gross earnings to be given to the offender or retained by the department. If retained by the department, the amount, with accrued interest if interest on the amount is earned, must be returned to the offender not later than at the time of the offender's release on parole or discharge.
2. (2) State and federal income taxes and Social Security deductions.
3. (3) The expenses of room and board, as fixed by the department and the budget agency, in facilities operated by the department, or, if the offender is housed in a facility not operated by the department, the amount paid by the department to the operator of the facility or other appropriate authority for room and board and other incidentals as established by agreement between the department and the appropriate authority.
4. (4) The support of the offender's dependents, when directed by the offender or ordered by the court to pay this support. If the offender's dependents are receiving welfare assistance, the appropriate county office of the division of family resources or welfare department in another state shall be notified of these disbursements.
5. (5) Ten percent (10%) of the offender's gross earnings, to be deposited in the violent crime victims compensation fund established by IC 5-2-6.1-40 .
6. (6) If an offender is eligible for an offender reentry administrative account under IC 11-10-15 , at least ten percent (10%) and not more than twenty percent (20%) of the offender's gross earnings, to be deposited in the offender's reentry administrative account.

(c) The department may, when special circumstances warrant or for just cause, waive the collection of room and board charges by or on behalf of a facility operated by the department or, if the offender is housed in a facility not operated by the department, authorize payment of room and board charges from other available funds.

As added by Acts 1979, P.L.120, SEC.3. Amended by Acts 1980, P.L.87, SEC.5; P.L.2-1992, SEC.109; P.L.4-1993, SEC.13; P.L.5-1993, SEC.26; P.L.47-1993, SEC.4; P.L.1-1994, SEC.43; P.L.146-2008, SEC.369; P.L.44-2009, SEC.5; P.L.104-2009, SEC.2.