Relates to providing voice communication services to incarcerated individuals in state correctional facilities at no cost.
Summary
A02266 would require New York state agencies operating prisons and youth residential placements or detention centers to provide incarcerated people with voice communication services at no cost. The bill also allows agencies to offer additional communication options, such as video calls, email, or messaging, but any such services would also have to be free to both the person initiating and the person receiving the communication. In addition, the measure prohibits state agencies from receiving revenue from these communication services.
The bill preserves in-person visitation and explicitly states that communication services may not be used to replace in-person visits. It repeals the existing section 623 of the correction law and replaces it with a new framework governing communication access in state correctional and detention settings. The bill would take effect April 1, 2026, and would apply to new or renewed contracts entered into on or after that date, with existing contracts required not to extend beyond March 31, 2026.
Impact
This bill would significantly change the rules governing telecommunications and related communication services in state-run correctional and youth detention facilities by mandating free access and eliminating agency revenue from those services. It would amend the Correction Law by repealing current section 623 and replacing it with a new section 623 that sets statewide requirements for voice communication, optional advanced communication services, and continued in-person visitation. The practical effect would be to shift the cost burden away from incarcerated individuals and their families and onto the state agencies or their contracted service providers.
Sentiment
The bill’s framing and sponsorship suggest a reform-oriented, pro-access approach focused on reducing the financial burden on incarcerated people and their families. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented floor or committee debate to indicate formal support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the measure appears designed to address concerns about affordability, family contact, and the use of communication services as a revenue source.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be the loss of revenue from communication contracts, the cost to state agencies of providing free services, and the operational impact of requiring contract changes by April 1, 2026. Another possible issue is whether free communication services could affect vendor arrangements or facility administration, although the bill preserves in-person visitation and does not eliminate communication services altogether. Supporters would likely emphasize family connection and fairness, while opponents may focus on fiscal and implementation concerns.