Subdivision 1.

Free communication services.

(a) A deleted text begin state adult or juveniledeleted text end facility deleted text begin under
the control of the commissioner of correctionsdeleted text end must provide deleted text begin incarcerateddeleted text end new text begin confinednew text end persons
with voice communication services. A facility may supplement voice communication services
with other communication services, including but not limited to video communication and
email or electronic messaging services. A facility must at least continue to offer the services
the facility offered as of January 1, 2023.

(b) To the extent that voice new text begin or other new text end communication services are provided, which must
not be limited beyond program participation and routine facility policies and procedures,
neither the individual initiating the communication nor the individual receiving the
communication must be charged for the service.

Subd. 2.

deleted text begin Voicedeleted text end Communication services restrictions.

Nothing in this section allows
deleted text begin an incarcerateddeleted text end new text begin a confinednew text end person to violate an active protection order, harassment restraining
order, or other no-contact order or directive.

Subd. 3.

deleted text begin Statedeleted text end Revenue prohibited.

deleted text begin A statedeleted text end new text begin Annew text end agency new text begin operating a facility new text end must not
receive revenue from the provision of voice communication services or any other
communication services under this sectiondeleted text begin , but an agency may collect commissions on
communication services provided under any contract entered into before January 1, 2023deleted text end .

Subd. 4.

Visitation programs.

(a) Facilities shall maintain in-person visits for
deleted text begin incarcerateddeleted text end new text begin confinednew text end personsdeleted text begin , anddeleted text end new text begin .new text end Communication servicesnew text begin , including video calls,new text end must
not be used to replace a facility's in-person visitation programnew text begin or be counted toward a
confined person's in-person visitation limitnew text end .

(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), the deleted text begin commissionerdeleted text end new text begin agency operating the facilitynew text end may
waive the in-person visitation program requirement under this subdivision if there is:

(1) a declared emergency under section 12.31; or

(2) a local-, state-, or federal-declared natural disaster.

new text begin Subd. 4a. new text end

new text begin Contract consolidation. new text end

new text begin An agency operating a facility shall maximize
purchasing power by consolidating contracts through a cooperative purchasing venture
established by the Office of State Procurement.
new text end

Subd. 5.

Reporting.

new text begin (a) new text end The Department of Corrections must include the following
information covering the previous calendar year in its annual performance report required
under section 241.016:

(1) deleted text begin itsdeleted text end new text begin the status of all the agency's communication contracts;new text end efforts to renegotiate the
agency's communication contracts, including the rates the agency is paying or charging
deleted text begin incarcerateddeleted text end new text begin confinednew text end people or community members for any and all services in the contracts;new text begin
and plans to consolidate the agency's communication contracts to maximize purchasing
power;
new text end

(2) a complete and detailed accounting of how deleted text begin legislativelydeleted text end appropriated funds for
communication services are spent, including spending on expenses previously covered by
commissions; and

(3) data on usage of all communication services, including monthly call and message
volume.

new text begin (b) By January 15 of each year, an agency other than the Department of Corrections that
operates a facility must report the information described in paragraph (a) to the commissioner
of corrections. By March 15 of each year, the commissioner shall submit a summary of the
information submitted under this paragraph to the chairs and ranking minority members of
the legislative committees having jurisdiction over corrections and human services policy
and finance.
new text end

Subd. 6.

Definitions.

For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given:

(1) "voice communications" means real-time, audio-only communication services,
namely phone calls made over wireline telephony, voice over Internet protocol, or any other
technology infrastructure; deleted text begin and
deleted text end

(2) "other communication services" means communication services other than voice
communications, including but not limited to video calls and electronic messagesdeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; and
new text end

new text begin (3) "facility" means a state adult or juvenile correctional facility under the control of the
commissioner of corrections; a local correctional facility, including a jail, workhouse, or
lockup; or any facility, setting, or program owned, operated, or under the programmatic or
fiscal control of the commissioner of human services.
new text end