Bill > SB231

This bill amends Pennsylvania's prison regulations to establish comprehensive requirements for inmate communication services, mandating that state and county correctional institutions provide free voice communication services with specific access standards. The bill requires facilities to maintain at least the same level of communication services as of January 1, 2024, ensure a minimum ratio of 10 inmates to one operable communication device in each housing unit, and provide at least two voice communication devices per housing unit. Facilities are prohibited from charging inmates or their contacts for communication services and cannot use these services to replace in-person visitation. The bill appropriates $16,500,000 from the General Fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support these communication services, with 70% allocated to the state department and 30% distributed to counties based on their inmate population. The legislation defines "voice communication services" as real-time, audio-only communications through various technologies and "other communication services" as additional communication methods like video calls and electronic messages. The bill will take effect 180 days after its enactment, giving correctional institutions time to implement the new requirements.