1810                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 720

700A.

(a)    The Department of Correction is authorized to establish a
"work release" program under which prisoners sentenced to the
jurisdiction of [said] the Department may be granted the privilege
of leaving actual confinement during necessary and reasonable hours
for the purpose of working at gainful private or public employment
or attending school as part of a work release program [in this
State]. Such program may also include, under appropriate condi-
tions, releases for the purpose of seeking such employment.

(b)    A prisoner eligible to participate in the "work release" pro-
gram in accordance with the preceding subsection may make appli-
cation to the warden or superintendent of the institution in which
he is confined for permission to participate in such program. The
application shall include a statement by the prisoner that he agrees
to abide by all terms and conditions of the particular plan adopted
for him by the Commissioner of Correction or his designee if such
application is approved, shall state the name and address of the pro-
posed employer, if any, or of the proposed school training program, if
any, and shall contain such other information as the Department or
the Commissioner may require, including the prisoners PRISONER'S
agreement to waive his right to contest extradition proceedings. The
warden or superintendent may, in his discretion, recommend such
application to the Commissioner. The Commissioner, or, in his ab-
sence, his designee may approve, disapprove, or defer action on
said recommendation. In the event of approval the Commissioner or
his designee shall adopt a "work release plan" for such prisoner
which shall contain such terms and conditions as may be
necessary and proper; and such plan shall be signed by the prisoner
prior to his participation in the program. At any time after approval
has been granted, it may be revoked for any reason by the Commis-
sioner.

(b-1) (1) Any prisoner who has participated for at least two
(2) months in the work release program as authorized by this sec-
tion may be granted weekend leave [in this State]; provided, how-
ever, that the prisoner shall have the recommendation of his direct
supervisor in the work release program.

(2) Final authorization and the terms and conditions for such
leave shall be granted only by the Commissioner of Correctional Serv-
ices and may be conditioned upon the prisoner's agreement to waive
his right to contest extradition proceedings. A weekend shall consist
of a period of time no longer than from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00
p.m. the Sunday immediately following.

(c)    The Department shall designate and adopt facilities in the
institutions and camps under its jurisdiction for the housing of
prisoners granted "work release" privileges. In areas where such
facilities are not within reasonable proximity of the place of em-
ployment of a prisoner so released, the Department may contract
with the proper authorities of political subdivisions of this State for
the quartering of such prisoner in suitable local confinement facili-
ties. In the "work release" plan of any prisoner, the Commissioner
shall include as a specific term or condition the place where such
prisoner is to be confined when not released for the purposes of the
"work release" program. If any prisoner released from actual confine-
ment under a "work release" plan shall wilfully fail to return to the