§15A-4-3. Electronic monitoring of offenders; special account.

(a) The commissioner may use electronic monitoring equipment to aid in the supervision of offenders.

(b) The commissioner shall charge offenders subject to supervision by means of electronic monitoring equipment a reasonable fee, to be established under a legislative rule proposed by the commissioner for legislative authorization pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, to help defray the costs of the purchase and use of the equipment and the division’s operational costs: Provided, That an offender’s inability to pay a fee does not preclude the offender from being eligible for this program.

(c) All fees collected shall be deposited in a special account in the State Treasury designated the “electronic monitoring program account.” The funds deposited in the account may be used by the commissioner only for the operation of the program and for the administration of the division.

(d) For purposes of this section, “electronic monitoring equipment” means an electronic device or apparatus approved by the division that is capable of recording or transmitting information regarding the offender’s presence or nonpresence in a designated area. The device shall be minimally intrusive. Except to the extent provided in this section, the division shall not approve any monitoring device which is capable of recording or transmitting: (1) Visual images, except for that of a still image of the offender that can only be transmitted by the offender triggering the monitoring system; or (2) information as to the offender’s activities while he or she is within the designated area. A monitoring device may transmit information regarding blood alcohol levels. The monitoring device shall not be used to eavesdrop or record any conversation: Provided, That conversations between the offender and the person supervising the offender may be recorded solely for purpose of voice identification.