(1) Except as otherwise provided herein, all court-ordered legal financial obligations shall take priority over any other statutorily imposed mandatory withdrawals from inmate's accounts.

(2) For those inmates who are on work release pursuant to chapter 72.65 RCW, before any legal financial obligations are withdrawn from the inmate's account, the inmate is entitled to payroll deductions that are required by law, or such payroll deductions as may reasonably be required by the nature of the employment unless any such amount which his or her work release plan specifies should be retained to help meet the inmate's needs, including costs necessary for his or her participation in the work release plan such as travel, meals, clothing, tools, and other incidentals.

(3) Before the payment of any court-ordered legal financial obligation is required, the department is entitled to reimbursement for any expenses advanced for vocational training pursuant to RCW 72.65.020(2), for expenses incident to a work release plan pursuant to RCW 72.65.090, payments for board and room charges for the work release participant, and payments that are necessary for the support of the work release participant's dependents, if any.

Purpose—Prospective application—Effective dates—Severability—1989 c 252: See notes following RCW 9.94A.030.