(a) (1) The Chief of Police shall maintain records of any amounts of medical expenses incurred on behalf of each prisoner. Upon each prisoner's release, the Warden and/or Budget Officer shall prepare a statement of such expenses, and if such expenses equal or exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00), he or she shall cause such statement to be transmitted to the Chief of Police.
(2) Upon receipt of a statement which indicates a total expense of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or more as to any individual incarcerated, the Chief of Police shall then proceed to attempt to collect payment from the individual for such authorized medical expenses either by using his or her own staff or by employment of a private collection agency. The Chief of Police may, in his or her discretion, accept partial payments or permit individuals to make periodic payments. Whenever the Chief of Police uses his or her own staff to collect such payments, bills may be sent by regular mail, and if no acceptable response is made within thirty days from the date the bills are sent, the Chief of Police shall refer the matter to the Department of Law for further collection efforts.
(b) The Chief of Police shall also refer a matter to the Department of Law for additional collection efforts where an individual fails to satisfactorily complete a payment plan or where a private collection agency has been unable to collect costs in matters referred to it. The Director of Law, in all matters referred to him or her, shall determine the most appropriate procedure for collecting such unpaid expenses. All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be placed in the General Fund of the City.
(Ord. 136-1990. Passed 5-7-90.)