Bill > SF666

This bill modifies the duties of facilities that confine people, focusing on providing free communication services for individuals in correctional and human services facilities. The legislation requires state adult and juvenile facilities to provide free voice communication services, such as phone calls, and allows for additional communication options like video calls and electronic messaging. Facilities must maintain at least the same level of communication services they offered as of January 1, 2023, and cannot charge individuals for these services. The bill emphasizes that communication services cannot replace in-person visitation programs and must not be used to circumvent existing visitation limits. Facilities are prohibited from receiving revenue from communication services, and they must report annually on their communication contracts, spending, and service usage. The bill also extends these requirements to facilities under the control of the Department of Human Services, ensuring that communication services for confined individuals are consistent across different types of state-controlled facilities. Additionally, the legislation includes provisions to protect against communication services being used to violate protection orders or in ways that conflict with existing regulations for civilly committed individuals.

Government Affairs, Health and Social Services, Justice

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0666&ssn=0&y=2025