Section 42-12-4. Payment from prisoner's inmate account for costs and fees of action commenced by prisoner

   The following provisions shall apply when an indigent prisoner commences an action:

   (1) The indigent prisoner shall pay the current balance of funds in the prisoner's inmate account;

   (2) The clerk of court shall notify the superintendent of the institution in which the prisoner is incarcerated that an action has been filed. Notice to the superintendent shall include:

      (A) The prisoner's name, inmate number, and civil action number; and

      (B) The amount of the court costs and fees due and payable;

   (3) Upon notification by the clerk of court that an indigent prisoner has commenced an action, the superintendent shall:

      (A) Immediately freeze the prisoner's inmate account; and

      (B) Order that all moneys deposited into the prisoner's inmate account be forwarded to the clerk until all court costs and fees are satisfied, whereupon the freezing of the account shall be terminated.

Code 1981, § 42-12-4, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 400, § 1.