Assembly Bill 731 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 prohibits the use of telecommunications services as a substitute for in-person visitation and restricts any charges beyond the established minimums for these services.

To facilitate these requirements, the bill requires the DOC to consolidate contracts for telecommunications services and allows counties to join these contracts at no cost. If a county opts not to join, it must report to the legislature explaining its decision and may request reimbursement for telecommunications costs up to the amount that would have been incurred under the DOC's contract. The bill includes provisions for annual reporting by both the DOC and counties regarding their telecommunications contracts and usage data. Additionally, it allocates funding for these services, providing $4,980,500 for the 2025-26 fiscal year and $14,374,600 for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

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