(a) The board may develop by rule and the department may administer an incentive pay scale for work program participants consistent with rules adopted by the board under Subchapter C. Prison industries may be financed through contributions donated for this purpose by private businesses contracting with the department. The department shall apportion pay earned by a work program participant in the same manner as is required by rules adopted by the board under Section 497.0581.
(b) In assigning work program participants to available job training positions in factories, the department shall consider each participant’s classification and availability for work. The department shall give priority to work program participants closest to release from imprisonment or supervision in making assignment to those job training positions that provide the most marketable skills.