Bill

Bill > A4389


NJ A4389

Imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in certain correctional facilities; requires correctional facilities to allow contact visits.


summary

Introduced
12/12/2016
In Committee
01/30/2017
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/08/2018

Introduced Session

2016-2017 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in State, county, and private correctional facilities and requires correctional facilities to allow inmates to have contact visits. Under the provisions of this bill, the State Treasurer or other appropriate person on behalf of the county or private correctional facility is to contract with a vendor who charges a per minute rate for video visitation, including video visitation that is accessed by visitors from a location other than a correctional facility, which is not to exceed 11 cents per minute and who is the lowest responsible bidder. A vendor is not to bill any service charge or additional fee exceeding the per minute rate. The bill also provides that a State, county, or private correctional facility is not permitted to receive a commission or impose a surcharge for video visitation usage by inmates in addition to the charges imposed by the service provider. Further, under the bill, the contract is to include a term that requires monetary penalties to be imposed on a vendor who does not maintain consistent and reliable quality of the video visitation service. In addition, a video visitation service provider is required to refund, in a timely manner, any charges imposed: (1) for a scheduled video visitation that does not occur for any reason other than the fault of the visitor; or (2) any video visitation in which communication between the inmate and the visitor is substantially impaired due to low quality audio or video. The bill prohibits a State, county, or private correctional facility from imposing a charge for video visitation between an inmate and the inmate's attorney, a representative of the attorney, or a member of the clergy. In addition, correctional facilities are required to allow inmates to have contact visits with approved visitors and may only impose reasonable conditions necessary for safety and security within the correctional facility. Finally, correctional facilities are required to implement reasonable visiting hours for both contact visits and video visitation.

AI Summary

This bill imposes requirements on video visitation service contracts for inmates in State, county, and private correctional facilities, and requires these facilities to allow inmates to have contact visits. The key provisions include: 1) capping the per-minute rate for video visitation at 11 cents and requiring the selection of the lowest responsible bidder; 2) prohibiting correctional facilities from receiving commissions or surcharges for video visitation usage; 3) requiring monetary penalties for vendors who fail to maintain consistent and reliable service quality; 4) mandating refunds for scheduled video visits that do not occur or have substantial audio/video issues; 5) prohibiting charges for video visits between inmates and their attorneys, representatives, or clergy; 6) requiring contact visits with reasonable conditions for safety and security; and 7) requiring reasonable visiting hours for both contact and video visits.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Justice

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Reported and Referred to Assembly Appropriations Committee (on 01/30/2017)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...