FLINT, MI -- The cash-strapped city of Flint would be able to charge convicted criminals for their stay in the city lockup under a new law signed today by Gov. Rick Snyder.

That is, if the city ever

.

The law allows cities, including Flint, to seek reimbursement from inmates for the costs of their stay in a city jail if the inmates are convicted of a crime.

Previously, only counties as well as cities located in counties of 500,000 or more people were able to seek reimbursement.

"The legislation rectifies this unfair and difficult financial situation for these (smaller) communities," reads a news release from Snyder's office about Public Act 136.

A representative of Flint emergency manager Michael Brown's office could not immediately be reached for comment about the new law's potential impact in Flint.

Under the law, a city may be reimbursed up to $60 per day for a convicted criminal's stay in a municipal jail. The inmate could also be charged the cost of providing any medical care, prescription drugs, dental care or other medical services, according to the House Fiscal Agency's analysis of the law.

The city would not be able to enforce a judgment against the inmate's home, but an inmate who refuses to cooperate would not be eligible for any potential reductions in his or sentence, according to the law.

The reimbursement also could be ordered as a condition of probation.

"According to law enforcement departments offering testimony on the bill, the additional revenue that could be collected under the bill is sorely needed to support local law enforcement efforts and may enable struggling municipalities to continue to operate their jails," the analysis says.

On the other hand, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan opposed the law and submitted written testimony against it to the Legislature in March.

The ACLU cited research that found the reimbursements hindered inmates' re-entry into society "by decreasing the limited savings and economic resources available to inmates upon release," the testimony said, "increasing the number of inmates qualifying as indigent, and placing a greater financial burden on inmates' families."

Flint emergency manager Michael Brown has advocated reopening the city lockup as soon as July as part of his

for Flint.

Part of the governor's $3 million allocation from the state for jail space in Flint could go toward the Flint facility, officials said earlier this month.

Jason Lorenz, Brown's public information officer, said today that the city is exploring two options for who would operate the lockup: the Genesee County Sheriff's Department or a private third-party entity.