SB 730

This bill provides that inmates of a state correctional institution or county jail

or house of correction be allowed access to email, live audiovisual calling services,

and electronic media services if they have a personal computing device. Under the

bill, the Department of Corrections or the sheriff or person in charge of a county jail

or house of correction may charge the inmate for the services, but the charge to the

inmate may not exceed the cost charged to DOC or the county by the service provider

for such services, and each inmate must be provided a weekly stipend of $17.50 to

purchase such services.

This bill provides to DOC $13,213,800 in the 2023-24 fiscal year and

$19,820,700 in the 2024-25 fiscal year to pay for DOC inmate technology access

stipends and $3,033,300 in the 2023-24 fiscal year and $4,550,000 in the 2024-25

fiscal year to reimburse counties for county jail or house of correction inmate

technology access stipends.