Bill > H0294

This bill proposes several significant changes to how telecommunications and labor are managed in Vermont state correctional facilities. The legislation mandates that incarcerated individuals receive communication services, including phone calls, video, and electronic communication, at no cost to them. It requires the Department of Corrections to evaluate existing contracts with communication service providers Global Tel Link Corporation and the Keefe Group to assess pricing fairness. The bill also stipulates that commissary services must price products no more than 10% above the fair market value in the local community. Additionally, the legislation requires that incarcerated individuals be compensated at or above the federal minimum wage for their labor, with guidelines for how wages can be used, such as supporting dependents, making commissary purchases, or being saved for release. The Department of Corrections must update its wage policies by January 1, 2026, to comply with these new wage requirements, and the entire act will take effect on July 1, 2025. These changes aim to reduce financial burdens on incarcerated individuals and their families while ensuring fair compensation and service pricing.

Justice

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