The bill titled "An Act relative to no-cost calls for incarcerated individuals" proposes amendments to Chapter 127 of Massachusetts law, specifically by striking out section 87A and replacing it with a new section. The new section mandates that the Department of Correction and sheriffs provide free voice communication services, including phone calls, to individuals committed to state correctional facilities, state prisons, or county correctional facilities. It stipulates that these services should allow for a minimum of 15 minutes and a maximum of 60 minutes of communication each day, as determined by the discretion of the commissioner and sheriffs. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need for adequate infrastructure to support these communication services and clarifies that in-person visits are not prohibited.

Furthermore, the bill allows the Department of Correction and sheriffs to offer supplementary communication services, such as video and electronic communication, provided that these do not replace the voice communication services and are also offered free of charge to both the initiator and recipient of the communication. This legislation aims to enhance communication access for incarcerated individuals, ensuring they can maintain connections with their families and communities without incurring costs.