SB 581

Abstract

Local correctional facilities; fees. Directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails (the Board) to convene a work group to review and make recommendations regarding the reduction or elimination of costs and fees charged to inmates in local or regional correctional facilities, including fees related to the costs of an inmate's keep, work release, or participation in educational or rehabilitative programs; telephone services; commissaries; and electronic visitation systems. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by December 1, 2022.

Local correctional facilities; fees. Directs the State Board of Local and Regional Jails (the Board) to convene a work group to review and make recommendations regarding the reduction or elimination of costs and fees charged to inmates in local or regional correctional facilities, including fees related to the costs of an inmate's keep, work release, or participation in educational or rehabilitative programs; telephone services; commissaries; and electronic visitation systems. The bill requires the Board to report its findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Public Safety and the Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services by October 1, 2022.

Local correctional facilities; fees. Eliminatescertain fees charged to inmates within a local correctional facility,including a fee to defray the costs associated with an inmate's keep,travel and other expenses associated with an inmate's work releaseemployment or participation in an educational or rehabilitative program,and telephone systems. The bill also caps certain fees charged toinmates within a local correctional facility, including that thecost of items within a correctional facility's store or commissaryand that the fee associated with electronic visitation and messagingsystems. The bill removes provisions that if an inmate is unableto pay in full certain fees, the inmate must enter into a deferredor installment payment agreement with the local correctional facility,or that such facility may enter into a contract for collection ofsuch fees with a private entity, a local governing body, or the countyor city treasurer. The bill also provides that, upon discharge froma local correctional facility, an inmate shall receive, in the formof a check, electronic transfer, or a debit or other account card,the balance of all accounts maintained by the facility for an inmate'suse.