The earnings of the ward shall be collected by the Youth Authority work furlough administrator, and it shall be the duty of the ward’s employer to transmit such wages to the administrator at the latter’s request. Earnings levied upon pursuant to writ of execution or in other lawful manner shall not be transmitted to the administrator. If the administrator has requested transmittal of earnings prior to levy, such request shall have priority. When an employer transmits such earnings to the administrator pursuant to this section he shall have no liability to the ward for such earnings. From such earnings the administrator shall pay the ward’s board and personal expenses, both inside and outside the detention facility, and shall deduct so much of the costs of administration of this article as is allocable to such ward. If sufficient funds are available after making the foregoing payments, the administrator may, with the consent of the ward, pay, in whole or in part, the preexisting debts of the ward. Any balance shall be retained until the ward’s discharge and thereupon shall be paid to him.