Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to regulate communication services for incarcerated individuals in Minnesota's state adult and juvenile facilities, ensuring that voice and other types of communication are provided for a fee that does not exceed the actual cost of the service.

Main Provisions

1. Charging Fees for Services: Facilities must offer voice communication services to incarcerated persons for a fee that must not exceed the actual cost of providing those services. Facilities are also allowed to offer additional fee-based communication services such as video communication and email.

2. Restriction on Revenue: State agencies are prohibited from collecting revenue from offering communication services, with the exception of commissions from pre-existing contracts.

3. In-person Visitation: Facilities are required to maintain in-person visitation programs and must not replace them with communication services. However, in-person visits can be waived during declared emergencies or natural disasters.

4. Service Restrictions: Incarcerated individuals cannot use communication services to violate active protection orders or no-contact directives.

5. Reporting Requirements: The Department of Corrections must report annually on efforts to renegotiate communication contract rates, funds expended, revenue from fees, and data on usage, including call and message volumes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Implementation of Fees: This bill introduces the requirement that communication services, which were previously free, are now to be provided for a fee, ensuring the cost reflects only the actual provision costs.
• Reporting and Transparency: Increases transparency through detailed annual reporting requirements regarding communication costs, contracts, and usage data.

Relevant Terms

• Incarcerated individuals
• Voice communication services
• Video calls
• Email or electronic messaging services
• In-person visitation
• No-contact orders
• Telecommunication fees
• Declared emergency