HF2812

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to regulate communication services for incarcerated individuals in Minnesota's state adult and juvenile correctional facilities. It seeks to shift from providing free communication services to charging a fee for these services, ensuring that fees do not exceed the actual cost of providing them.

Main Provisions

• Fee Implementation: State correctional facilities will offer communication services such as voice calls, video communication, and email for a fee, with the condition that these fees do not surpass the actual cost of the services.
• No State Revenue: State agencies cannot earn revenue from these communication services, although they may continue collecting commissions from contracts established before January 2023.
• In-Person Visitation: Facilities must continue to provide in-person visitation, and communication services should not replace these visits. Exceptions are allowed in cases of declared emergencies or natural disasters.
• Reporting Requirements: The Department of Corrections must report annually on efforts to renegotiate communication contracts, detailing expenses and revenues related to these services and providing data on their usage.
• Communication Service Definitions:
  • Voice Communications: Defined as real-time audio-only services, like phone calls.
  • Other Communication Services: Includes video calls and electronic messaging beyond basic voice communication.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Previously, Minnesota statutes required free communication services for incarcerated individuals. This bill amends the statutes to allow for the charging of fees, as long as these fees reflect the actual cost of the service, thus a shift from no-cost to cost-based communication.

Relevant Terms

• Incarcerated persons
• Voice communication services
• Video communication
• Electronic messaging
• In-person visitation
• Department of Corrections
• Communication fees
• Revenue
• Contract commissions