AR SB544

Persons in custody of the Arkansas Department of Corrections or local/regional correctional facilities who receive federal relief or stimulus funds must first use those funds to pay outstanding court-ordered fines, fees, costs, or restitution before using funds for any other purpose, unless prohibited by federal law.

The Department of Corrections must verify that received funds are intended for the person and are federal relief/stimulus funds, then withhold amounts up to what is owed and forward the withheld funds to the appropriate circuit clerk or city treasurer.

The department is not responsible for searching out existing court obligations; it only acts when made aware of outstanding fines, fees, costs, or restitution.

If a person receives federal relief/stimulus funds but has no known outstanding court obligations, the funds are distributed equally between an inmate welfare fund and the Division of Correction Inmate Care and Custody Fund Account.

The law applies retroactively to federal relief or stimulus funds received on or after October 13, 2020, and is declared an emergency measure effective immediately upon the Governor's approval.