The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 476, aims to enhance visitation policies for individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities and establish a process for disbursing funds held in trust by the Department of Correction to those who have been released. The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Correction allow each incarcerated individual to have a minimum of three in-person visits per week, replacing previous language that prohibited the use of communication services to replace in-person visits. Additionally, the bill ensures that incarcerated individuals have access to voice communication services, which must be provided free of charge, allowing for at least ninety minutes of communication each day.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a new provision requiring the Department of Correction to disburse any remaining balance in an individual's Inmate Trust Fund account upon their release. This disbursement can be made in various forms, such as cash or checks, and mandates that the department obtain a mailing address from the individual if their release date is not known at least two weeks in advance. The bill prohibits the assessment of any fees related to the disbursement process, ensuring that formerly incarcerated individuals receive their funds without additional charges. The effective dates for these changes are set for October 1, 2026, for visitation policies and July 1, 2026, for the disbursement process.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 18-81oo