(1) The secretary is authorized to extend the limits of the place of confinement and treatment within the state of any prisoner convicted of a felony, sentenced to a term of confinement and treatment by the superior court, and serving such sentence in a state correctional institution under the jurisdiction of the department, by authorizing a work release plan for such prisoner, permitting him or her, under prescribed conditions, to do any of the following:
(a) Work at paid employment;
(b) Participate in a vocational training program: PROVIDED, That the tuition and other expenses of such a vocational training program shall be paid by the prisoner, by someone in his or her behalf, or by the department: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any expenses paid by the department shall be recovered by the department pursuant to the terms of RCW 72.65.050;
(c) Interview or make application to a prospective employer or employers, or enroll in a suitable vocational training program.
Such work release plan of any prison shall require that he or she be confined during the hours not reasonably necessary to implement the plan , in (1) [(i)] a state correctional institution, (2) [(ii)] a county or city jail, which jail has been approved after inspection pursuant to *RCW 70.48.050, or (3) [(iii)] any other appropriate, supervised facility, after an agreement has been entered into between the department and the appropriate authorities of the facility for the housing of work release prisoners.
(2) This section applies only to persons sentenced for crimes that were committed before July 1, 1984.