Bill > HB676

This bill requires all youth and adult correctional facilities in Hawaii to provide free voice communication services to incarcerated individuals, prohibiting state agencies from generating revenue from these services. Specifically, the bill mandates that correctional facilities offer accessible and functional voice communication at no cost to both the sender and receiver, with the option to supplement these services with video or electronic messaging. The legislation aims to address the financial burden communication services place on incarcerated individuals and their families, particularly noting the disproportionate impact on people of color. The bill follows similar initiatives in other states like New York, Connecticut, and California, and aligns with recent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that reduce communication service rates and ban ancillary fees. The Public Utilities Commission will establish service quality standards and report to the Legislature, and the state has appropriated $1,000,000 to implement these free communication services. The bill explicitly requires that these communication services do not replace in-person visitation programs and maintains the same or greater communication access as existed on January 15, 2025, with full implementation required by January 1, 2026.

Military Affairs and Security

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=676&year=2025