7. a. The commissioner shall, at least 30 days prior to an inmate’s release from confinement, assist the inmate in establishing a consumer checking account pursuant to the provisions of P.L.1991, c.210 (C. 17:16N-1 et seq.). The inmate may be issued a basic debit card by the bank. For the purposes of this section, “debit card” means any instrument or device, whether known as a debit card, automated teller machine card, or by any other name, issued with or without fee by an issuer for the use of the debit card holder in obtaining money, goods, services or anything else of value through the electronic authorization of a financial institution to debit the debit card holder’s account. “Debit card holder” means a consumer named on the face of a debit card to whom or for whose benefit the debit card is issued by an issuer.

b. Upon an inmate’s release, the balance remaining in the inmate account administered by the correctional facility, following all payments and withdrawals pursuant to section 4 of P.L.1969, c.22 (C. 30:4-91.4), shall be transferred into the consumer checking account established pursuant to this section.

c. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an inmate to establish a consumer checking account. The commissioner shall not be required to establish a consumer checking account if the inmate chooses not to establish such an account pursuant to this section. Any consumer checking account or debit card provided under this section shall be established or issued in a manner that is consistent with State and federal law and regulation.

d. The commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, and pursuant to the provisions of the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and effectuate the purposes of P.L.2009, c.329 (C. 30:1B-6.1 et al.).

L.2009, c.329, s.7.