Bill > H0294

This bill aims to improve telecommunications services and wages for incarcerated individuals in Vermont by mandating that the Department of Corrections explore options for providing these services at no cost to inmates, with a report due by December 1, 2026, that will evaluate current models, alternative providers like non-profits or public utilities, and the associated costs and implementation considerations, while also requiring consultation with various stakeholders including the Public Utility Commission and formerly incarcerated individuals. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Corrections to conduct a separate report by the same date evaluating the impact of current inmate wages, analyzing wage levels, the cost of inmate labor to the state, and how wage adequacy could affect inmate outcomes like family contact, reentry success, and their ability to afford communication services and other necessities. The bill also includes an intent clause to reduce communication barriers, mitigate disruptions to family connections, and divest from the for-profit prison industry.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs, Justice

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.294