(a) The commissioner may establish a furlough program for inmates committed to his or her custody for a felony offense. The program may provide that selected inmates be permitted to reside outside an institution operated by the division pursuant to legislative rules promulgated pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code.

(b) The commissioner, or his or her designee, is authorized to propose rules for legislative authorization, pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, or policy directives, promulgated by the commissioner, a furlough program for pretrial and misdemeanant inmates under his or her control and custody in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) The program may include, but is not limited to, granting furloughs or special escorts for specified inmates under the commissioner’s control and custody to attend funerals or make hospital visits to terminally ill family members.

(2) The commissioner shall establish criteria to be used in determining which inmates are not likely to jeopardize public safety and should be granted a furlough or a special escort through this program.

(3) The commissioner is authorized to establish any other guidelines he or she considers necessary to administer the program and to ensure public safety, including, but not limited to:

(A) Eligibility for consideration, restrictions, conditions, and procedures; and

(B) The family relationship an inmate must have with the deceased or terminally ill individual in order to qualify for consideration for a furlough.

(c)(1) The division, the commissioner, members of the Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority Board, and employees of the division are immune from suit and liability, either personally or in their official capacity, for any claim for damage to or loss of property or personal injury or other civil liability caused or arising out of any actual or alleged act of an inmate while on a furlough granted under this section.

(2) The immunity from suit and liability provided in this subsection does not extend to liability for any damage, loss, injury, or liability caused by the intentional or willful and wanton misconduct of any person identified in §15A-4-2(c)(1) of this code.