Bill > S1494

This bill aims to keep families connected by addressing the cost of communication services for incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities, state prisons, and county correctional facilities. The key provisions are: 1. Any contract for communication services that provides revenue, financial incentives, or commissions to law enforcement agencies will be void, and the Department of Correction and sheriffs must renegotiate such contracts to remove these provisions and reduce the cost of communication services. 2. A new Communications Access Trust Fund will be established, administered by the Secretary of Administration and Finance, to provide free voice communication services, including phone calls and other communication services, to incarcerated individuals and their family members. 3. The Department of Correction and sheriffs must submit quarterly documentation to the Secretary of Administration and Finance to receive payments from the Trust Fund, and the Secretary must report quarterly to the Legislature on the contracts, revenue, and policies related to these communication services. The bill aims to ensure that incarcerated individuals and their families have access to affordable communication services, and to remove financial incentives that may have previously led to higher costs for these services.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S1494