Amendment #616 to H4000

Examining Fiscally Responsible Alternatives to the No Cost Calls Program

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Muradian of Grafton, Vieira of Falmouth and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill, in section 2, by striking out item 1595-6153, in its entirety. 

And further amends said section 2, in item 1233-2350, by striking out the figure “$1,308,713,668” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$1,318,713,668”.

And further amends the bill, in section 3, by striking out the figure “$1,308,713,668” and inserting in place thereof the following figure “$1,318,713,668”.

And further amends the bill by adding the following sections:-

SECTION A. Chapter 64 of the Acts of 2023 is hereby repealed.

SECTION B. There shall be a commission to study and develop recommendations for a fiscally constrained and sustainable alternative to the no cost calls initiative.

The commission shall include the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security, who shall serve as the chair, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on public safety, 1 member who shall be appointed by the house minority leader, 1 member who shall be appointed by the senate minority leader, 1 member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, 1 member who shall be appointed by the senate president, and 3 representatives from the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.

The commission shall study, including, but not limited to, the fiscal challenges previously posed by the no cost calls program, the impact that providing unlimited calls to incarcerated individuals had on participation in state funded re-entry programs, and the operational challenges that the program had created for state prisons, and state and county correctional facilities.

The commission shall develop and recommend fiscally constrained alternatives to the no cost calls program that allows incarcerated individuals reasonable access to the ability to contact their friends and family, without posing impacts on the participation in re-entry programs or the operations of correctional facilities.

The commission shall submit its findings and recommendations to the joint committee on public safety and the clerks of the house and senate within 6 months of the passage of this act.

SECTION C. Section B shall take effect immediately upon the passage of this act.

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #616 to H4000

Examining Fiscally Responsible Alternatives to the No Cost Calls Program