Budget Amendment ID: FY2024-S3-941

EPS 941

No Cost Calls

Ms. Miranda, Messrs. Gomez, Barrett and Eldridge, Ms. Jehlen, Ms. Edwards and Ms. Lovely moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 25, by striking out, in line 10, the following words: - "; maximized to the extent possible" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- accessible at all times to the extent that such services do not interfere with rehabilitative, educational or vocational programming or routine facility procedures; and further moves to amend said section, by inserting after the word "communication" in line 19, the following words:- " (d) In all state correctional facilities, state prisons and county correctional facilities, including jails and houses of correction, that currently provide tablets that are capable of becoming calling-enabled, the department of correction and sheriffs shall enable voice communication services via these tablets, and shall ensure adequate infrastructure to provide voice communication services via these tablets. These voice communication services shall be provided free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication. When tablet calling is unavailable because Wifi is unavailable, the tablet is damaged or lost, or for any other reason, incarcerated persons shall have access to landline phones at all times in all housing units to the extent that such access does not interfere with rehabilitative, educational or vocational programming or routine facility procedures.