A07658 Summary:
| BILL NO | A07658A |
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| SAME AS | No Same As |
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| SPONSOR | Epstein |
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| COSPNSR | Mosley, Quart, Simon |
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| MLTSPNSR | |
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| Amd §623, Cor L | |
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| Relates to providing voice communication service to incarcerated people at no cost; requires state and local agencies charged with the operation and management of state and local correctional facilities and juvenile detention facilities to provide persons in their custody with voice communication service at a minimum of 90 minutes per day. | |
A07658 Memo:
Go to topNEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)   BILL NUMBER: A7658A SPONSOR: Epstein
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing voice communication service to incarcerated people at no cost   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To eliminate the cost of phone calls from inmates to family and friends living in the United States.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 amends subdivisions 1 through 5 of section 623 of the correction law to: - remove sections of law that provided for the existing system of prepaid or collect calls and require all state and local facilities - provide a minimum of ninety minutes of voice communication time per day - clarify that no state or local agency shall accept or receive any revenue for administering voice communication services, video communi- cation, and electronic mail services - protect in-person visitation rights for incarcerated people Section 2 provides the effective date   DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE): This amendment expands the scope of the legislation to include local facilities in addition to state facilities and establishes a minimum of 90 minutes of call time per day per inmate.   JUSTIFICATION: Most of the inmates in New York jails and prisons are low-income indi- viduals and are least able to pay to keep in touch with their families, friends and clergy. The cost of daily calls can be a strain on an inmate's family finances. Families shouldn't have to choose between paying their utility or food bill and speaking to their loved one. Telephone calls allow parents and guardians to keep in touch with their children and help keep families intact after the incarcerated individual is released. It can be a critical lifeline for families and the incar- cerated person. In 2019, New York City recently made phone calls from its jails free. Expanding the basic right of communication for inmates in the rest of the state will better prepare them for successful re-entry into their communities.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New bill   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: To be determined   EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1st, 2020