Senate Bill 708 mandates that the Department of Corrections (DOC) and counties provide minimum free telecommunications services to inmates in state prisons and county jails, as well as juveniles in correctional facilities. Specifically, the bill stipulates that each inmate or juvenile must have access to at least 180 minutes of telephone calling, 60 minutes of video calling, and 100 text messages per week at no cost to the person initiating or receiving the services. The bill also emphasizes that these telecommunications services cannot replace in-person visitation and prohibits any charges beyond the established minimums. To ensure cost-effectiveness, the DOC is required to consolidate contracts for telecommunications services and allow counties to join these contracts at no cost.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for reporting and accountability. If a county opts not to join the DOC's contract, it must submit a report to the legislature explaining its decision and detailing its telecommunications contracts and usage data. The DOC is also required to report on its contracts and usage data annually. The bill phases in the telecommunications access requirements over 18 months and allocates funding of $4,980,500 for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $14,374,600 for the 2026-27 fiscal year to support these services and reimburse counties. Notably, the bill repeals certain existing statutes related to telecommunications services while creating new provisions to enhance access for inmates and juveniles.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 20.410(1)(gt), 20.410, 301.105