Rette Speight

Legislators are looking at a bill that would continue funding for inmates receiving post-secondary education.

"My primary motivation for this bill is for society's good," said Rep. Jack Draxler, R-Logan. "Unless we're prepared to pay for them, we need to support the best way to keep them functional in society and out of prison."

Draxler emphasized that the bill does not expand existing programs or create new ones. It simply "stabilizes funding for existing programs."

Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, said that he was worried it might not be fair to those working for their education.

"Our best kids in society are footing the money every year to go to college," Wimmer said. "With this bill, if you want free education and free room and board, get yourself thrown in prison. Then you get a college education. I don't know exactly if this is the right thing to be doing when we have good kids who have worked hard their entire college careers and have to foot the bill themselves."

Rep. Demar "Bud" Bowman, R-Cedar City, spoke of a person in his county who has benefited from the program, saying "the boy was devastated" when funding was cut off just a semester shy of graduating with a bachelor's degree.

"The boy will get out, his sentence is almost up," Bowman said.

Draxler added that surcharges from telephone calls made by the inmates help fund the program.

This bill would require $1.5 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year.