HB3773 would amend Section 3-4-1 of the Unified Code of Corrections to change how telephone services are provided to people in Illinois correctional institutions and facilities. The bill removes the existing statutory language that requires the Department of Central Management Services to contract with the vendor offering the lowest per-minute rate, capped at 7 cents per minute, and instead requires the Department to contract for telephone services whose cost is not based on the number of calls made. It also states that a committed person is entitled to make free telephone calls from the facility.
The bill further prohibits the Department of Corrections and its agents from adopting rules that charge a committed person per call. At the same time, it preserves administrative authority for the Department to set rules on call length, the number of calls allowed each day, and restrictions on calls made for illegal purposes. In effect, the measure shifts the state away from a per-minute/per-call pricing model for inmate calling services and toward a free-call model with operational limits set by correctional rules.
Impact
HB3773 would directly affect the Department of Central Management Services, the Department of Corrections, and vendors providing inmate telephone services. It would repeal the current statutory framework tied to a capped per-minute rate and related fee restrictions, and replace it with a requirement that phone service pricing not be based on call volume. The bill would also eliminate the state’s ability to charge committed persons per telephone call, while leaving intact the Department’s authority to regulate call duration, frequency, and misuse. This would likely alter future procurement contracts and the revenue structure associated with inmate calling services under the Unified Code of Corrections.
Sentiment
The bill’s caption, “CD CORR-FREE PHONE CALLS,” and its text suggest a reform-oriented approach aimed at reducing or eliminating the cost burden of phone calls for incarcerated people. Even without recorded committee testimony or votes, the measure appears designed to expand access to communication with family and others by making calls free at the point of use. The overall policy direction is generally favorable to incarcerated people and their contacts, and likely aligns with criminal justice reform and family connection goals.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the loss of revenue from inmate calling services and the shift away from a market-based vendor selection tied to per-minute rates. Correctional agencies and any vendors currently benefiting from commissions or call-based fees may object to the fiscal impact and operational changes. Supporters would likely emphasize fairness, family contact, and reentry benefits, while critics may focus on implementation costs, contract restructuring, and the Department’s need to manage call abuse through limits on duration and frequency rather than pricing.