Okla. Stat. tit. 57, § 57-508.3: Construction Division

A. There is hereby created the Construction Division within the

Department of Corrections. The purpose of the division shall be to

provide inmate construction crews for construction projects of the

Department of Corrections.

B. The Director of the Department of Corrections shall adopt

and promulgate such rules as may be necessary to carry out the

duties of the Construction Division and shall appoint a Director of

the division who shall administer the activities of the division.

C. 1. An inmate working for the Construction Division of the

Department of Corrections shall be subject to all rules established

for inmate work by the State Board of Corrections and subject to all

statutes governing the operation of the Construction Division of the

Department of Corrections.

2. Inmates working for the Construction Division are not state

employees, and are specifically forbidden from organizing into

unions or other associations in connection with their work or from

engaging in any strike, work stoppage, slowdown or collective

bargaining process. This prohibition applies to any inmates forming

a union local or similar organization at any Construction Division

project or location; provided, however, it shall not prohibit any

inmate from otherwise achieving or retaining status as a union

member.

3. The claims of the state against an inmate to cover the costs

of incarceration of an inmate shall be prior to the unsecured claims

of any creditor.

4. The authorization for an inmate to work for the Construction

Division is a privilege granted to the inmate by the state which may

be revoked by the Director of the Department of Corrections.

5. As used in paragraph 3 of this subsection, "costs of

incarceration" shall include all costs associated with maintaining

an inmate in the custody of the Department of Corrections and shall

include costs paid by the state for medical care for the inmate.