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Bill > H1796

MA H1796

MA H1796
Relative to telephone service for inmates in all correctional and other penal institutions in the Commonwealth

summary

Introduced
02/16/2023
In Committee
02/16/2023
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2024

Introduced Session

193rd General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to telephone service for inmates in correctional institutions. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill amends Chapter 127 of the General Laws to require the Department of Correction and sheriffs to provide free voice communication services to persons committed to state correctional facilities, state prisons, and county correctional facilities, including jails and houses of correction. It mandates that incarcerated individuals have access to voice communication services at all times, except when such access would interfere with rehabilitative, educational, or vocational programming or routine facility procedures. The bill also requires the Department of Correction and sheriffs to renegotiate any existing contracts for communication services that provide revenue, financial incentives, or commissions to law enforcement agencies, and to seek to maximize purchasing power and consolidate contracts for voice communication services.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (48)

Chynah Tyler (D)*,  James Arena-Derosa (D),  Ruth Balser (D),  Christine Barber (D),  Natalie Blais (D),  Tony Cabral (D),  Simon Cataldo (D),  Tackey Chan (D),  Michelle Ciccolo (D),  Mike Connolly (D),  Rob Consalvo (D),  Carol Doherty (D),  Mindy Domb (D),  Kate Donaghue (D),  Michelle DuBois (D),  Pat Duffy (D),  Dylan Fernandes (D),  Brandy Fluker Fluker-Reid (D),  Sean Garballey (D),  Judith García (D),  Carmine Gentile (D),  Chris Hendricks (D),  Natalie Higgins (D),  Russell Holmes (D),  Vanna Howard (D),  Patrick Kearney (D),  Kay Khan (D),  Mike Kushmerek (D),  David LeBoeuf (D),  Jack Lewis (D),  Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D),  Jay Livingstone (D),  Adrian Madaro (D),  Christopher Markey (D),  Rita Mendes (D),  Sam Montaño (D),  Tram Nguyen (D),  Steve Owens (D),  Becca Rausch (D),  Dave Rogers (D),  Lindsay Sabadosa (D),  Jon Santiago (D),  Margaret Scarsdale (D),  Tom Stanley (D),  Erika Uyterhoeven (D),  Tommy Vitolo (D),  Susannah Whipps (I),  Chris Worrell (D), 

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see H4517 (on 06/05/2024)
(1 Companion Bills)

bill text

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Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1796
BillText https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1796.pdf
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