To Provide For A Surcharge To Be Assessed On Inmate Phone Calls To Offset The Costs Of Security Needs Associated With Inmate Communications.
Summary
HB1953 would authorize Arkansas correctional and county jail officials to impose a surcharge on inmate telephone and video calls. The bill states that the surcharge is intended to offset the costs of security needs associated with inmate communications, including equipment and operational expenses. It applies both to facilities operated by the Division of Correction and Division of Community Correction, and separately allows county sheriffs to assess a similar surcharge for county jail communications.
The bill also limits how inmate call revenues may be used. Money collected under the state inmate-communications surcharge would be deposited into the Division of Correction Nontax Revenue Receipts Fund and used only for security-related communication costs, with the Board of Corrections directed to set guidelines for authorized uses. For county jails, surcharge revenue would be credited to the sheriff’s office communications facility and equipment fund. The bill preserves existing limits on intrastate inmate call pricing and ancillary charges, tying them to Federal Communications Commission standards as of January 1, 2021.
Impact
HB1953 would amend Arkansas law governing inmate telephone and video communications by creating explicit authority for a new surcharge at both state prisons and county jails. It would affect Arkansas Code § 12-29-119 and § 12-41-105, while also adding a new restriction in § 12-27-128 on how collected funds may be spent. The practical effect is to shift some of the cost of inmate communication security infrastructure from correctional agencies and counties to users of inmate communication services, with revenue earmarked for communication-related security expenses.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or partisan division in the available materials. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to be framed as a funding and security-management proposal rather than a broader policy change. The overall tone is administrative and fiscal, emphasizing cost recovery for security needs associated with inmate communications.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is the added cost to inmates and their families, since the bill authorizes surcharges on both telephone and video calls. Supporters are likely to emphasize the need to fund security equipment and operations, while critics may argue that the surcharge places an additional financial burden on incarcerated people and their contacts. Another possible issue is the discretion given to the Chief Fiscal Officer and Governor to determine the surcharge amount, which may raise concerns about transparency or the size of the fee.