Chapter 162

2006 -- H 7287 SUBSTITUTE A AS AMENDED

Enacted 06/23/06

A N A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT - CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, E Coderre, Slater, Williams, and Dennigan

Date Introduced: February 15, 2006

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 42-56 of the General Laws entitled "Corrections Department" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

42-56-38.1. Prisoner telephone use. -- (a) When an inmate requests and receives a list of

parties approved to receive telephone calls, the inmate shall be provided the option of using either

a debit or collect call system to place such calls. Under the debit system, either the cost of such

service shall be automatically deducted from the account maintained by the inmate for that

purpose, or the inmate shall set aside money from his/her account to be placed in a prepaid

telephone account.

(b) No telephone service provider shall charge a customer rate for calls made from a

prison in excess of rates charged for comparable calls made in non-prison settings. All rates shall

reflect the lowest reasonable cost to inmates and call recipients.

(c) No concessions agreements for inmate telephone calling services shall include

provisions for a commission payable to the state, nor shall any correctional institution impose a

surcharge for telephone usage by inmates in addition to the charges imposed by the telephone

service provider.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on August 1, 2007.

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LC01856/SUB A

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