What's happening
This bill requires New York State to reduce and cap inmate phone call rates and limits revenue to operating costs for prison phone systems.
Why it matters
Reduces the financial burden on incarcerated individuals and their families. by requiring the state to actively lower and cap the cost of phone calls from prisons, addressing concerns about excessive charges and their impact on maintaining family connections.
Removes profit incentives from prison telecommunication services. by restricting the Department of Corrections from receiving revenue beyond what is needed to cover operational costs, which could reduce the exploitation of inmates as a source of income for the state or private vendors.
May improve equity and access to communication. for inmates, especially those from low-income backgrounds, by making phone calls more affordable and limiting the economic barriers to staying in touch with loved ones and legal counsel.
Maintains a focus on security. by ensuring that any changes to the phone system must still comply with rules that safeguard the facility, staff, and the public, balancing cost reduction with institutional safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Inmate Phone Costs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2235
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the reduction of inmate telephone rates
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 623 of the correction law, as added by chapter 240 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
3. The department shall make every effort to reduce the rates of inmate phone calls and place a reasonable cap on the cost of outgoing calls.
4. The department shall not accept or receive revenue in excess of its reasonable operating cost for establishing and administering such telephone system services as provided in subdivisions one and two of this section.
[4.] 5. The department shall establish rules and regulations or departmental procedures to ensure that any inmate phone call system established by this section provides reasonable security measures to preserve the safety and security of each correctional facility, all staff and all persons outside a facility who may receive inmate phone calls.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07154-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the reduction of inmate telephone rates
Purpose
To reduce and cap the cost of outgoing inmate phone calls.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 623 of the correction law, as added by chapter 240 of the laws of 2007, providing the depart- ment shall make every effort to reduce the rates of inmate phone calls and place a reasonable cap on the cost of outgoing calls.
Section 2 provides this act shall take effect immediately.
Existing law
The department shall not accept or receive revenue in excess of its reasonable operating cost and shall establish rules and regulations to ensure any inmate phone call system provides reasonable security meas- ures to preserve safety and security.
Justification
According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), studies show inmates who maintain contact with family and community while in prison have a reduced rate of recidivism and are more likely to become produc- tive citizens upon their release. The FCC recently imposed regulations on outgoing inmate phone call rates, finding them unjust and unreason- able. It should be the policy of the state to ensure inmates can main- tain the contact and support they need.
Legislative history
04/08/16 Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
Fiscal implications
Undetermined
Local fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.