Permits the use of portable electronic devices for making phone calls as part of the telephone service system made available to incarcerated individuals.
Summary
This bill would amend the correction law to require the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to include wireless calling capability as part of the telephone services available to incarcerated individuals. In addition to existing prepaid and collect-call options, the department would have to allow calls made through portable tablet devices or other portable electronic devices. The bill specifies that these wireless calls cannot replace regular phone access, and it directs the department to make a reasonable effort to provide them free of charge.
The measure also provides that wireless calls may not cost more than calls placed from traditional telephones, and that the department may impose the same restrictions on wireless calls that it can impose on standard phone calls. The bill would take effect 90 days after becoming law.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would expand the correction law governing incarcerated individuals’ telephone access by adding a new wireless communications option to the state prison phone system. It would affect the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, prison telecommunications vendors, and incarcerated people and their families by potentially lowering communication barriers and limiting the ability to charge higher rates for tablet-based or other portable-device calls.
Sentiment
The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no documented formal sentiment from hearings or floor action. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears oriented toward improving access to communication for incarcerated individuals and reducing cost burdens, which suggests a generally reform-minded and access-expanding purpose.
Contention
The main points of potential contention are likely to be cost, implementation, and security. Supporters would likely emphasize expanded family contact, fairness in call pricing, and the availability of free or lower-cost wireless calls. Opponents or skeptics may focus on the operational burden on the department, the cost of providing portable devices and wireless service, and whether expanded device access could create security or monitoring concerns. The bill also preserves the department’s authority to impose call limitations, which may be relevant to balancing access and institutional control.
Creates parity for incarcerated individual telephone services for international calls to family members outside continental United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or Central Northern Mariana Islands by requiring identical restrictions on the duration or number of phone calls and use of unit or facility phones made available to incarcerated individuals who are calling family members who are not outside continental United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam or Central Northern Mariana Islands.