Bill > LD45

This bill establishes a new Resident Technology Fund within the Department of Corrections to help offset the costs of technology provided to inmates in correctional facilities. The bill allows the commissioner to charge a monthly technology fee to residents using departmental technology like computers and external storage devices, with specific limitations: the fee cannot exceed 7% of the resident's monthly earnings after mandatory deductions or $35, whichever is less. The fee will not apply to technology used for legal research or for residents earning less than $100 per month. Certain types of money, such as funds deposited into telephone call accounts or credit improvement loans, are exempt from the fee calculation. All collected fees will be deposited into the Resident Technology Fund, which can then be used to purchase and maintain technology for inmates, particularly for educational, vocational, or remote work purposes. The bill includes an initial allocation of $38,598 for the fund in each of the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, ensuring the program has initial funding to support its implementation.

Justice

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=45&snum=132