NY State Senate Bill 2023-S4155

Senate Bill S4155

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to make efforts to reduce incarcerated individual telephone rates and to place a cap on the cost of outgoing calls

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime And Correction Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Feb 03, 2023	referred to crime victims, crime and correction

2023-S4155 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Law Section:: Correction Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §623, Cor L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2015-2016: S7228
2017-2018: S4640
2019-2020: S2235
2021-2022: S3422

2023-S4155 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the department of corrections and community supervision to make efforts to reduce incarcerated individual telephone rates and to place a cap on the cost of outgoing calls.

2023-S4155 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S4155

SPONSOR: SANDERS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the reduction of
incarcerated individual telephone rates

 
PURPOSE:

To reduce and cap the cost of outgoing inmate phone calls.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 623 of the correction
law, as added by chapter 240 of the laws of 2007, providing the depart-
ment shall make every effort to reduce the rates of inmate phone calls
and place a reasonable cap on the cost of outgoing calls.

Section 2 provides this act shall take effect immediately.

EXISTING LAW:

The department shall not accept or receive revenue in excess of its
reasonable operating cost and shall establish rules and regulations to
ensure any inmate phone call system provides reasonable security meas-
ures to preserve safety and security.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), studies show
inmates who maintain contact with family and community while in prison
have a reduced rate of recidivism and are more likely to become produc-
tive citizens upon their release. The FCC recently imposed regulations
on outgoing inmate phone call rates, finding them unjust and unreason-
able. It should be the policy of the state to ensure inmates can main-
tain the contact and support they need.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22 REFERRED TO SENATE CRIME VICTIMS,CRIME AND CORRECTION

2022 reported from correction referred to assembly ways and means

2021 referred to assembly correction

2019-20 REFERRED TO SENATE CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Undetermined

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S4155 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4155
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 3, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SANDERS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims,  Crime  and
   Correction
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  correction law, in relation to the reduction of
   incarcerated individual telephone rates

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Subdivisions 3 and 4 of section 623 of the correction law,
 as amended by chapter 322 of the laws of 2021, are amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   3.  THE  DEPARTMENT  SHALL  MAKE  EVERY  EFFORT TO REDUCE THE RATES OF
 INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL PHONE CALLS AND PLACE A REASONABLE  CAP  ON  THE
 COST OF OUTGOING CALLS.
   4. The department shall not accept or receive revenue in excess of its
 reasonable  operating cost for establishing and administering such tele-
 phone system services as provided in subdivisions one and  two  of  this
 section.
   [4.]  5.  The  department  shall  establish  rules  and regulations or
 departmental procedures to ensure that any incarcerated individual phone
 call system established by this  section  provides  reasonable  security
 measures to preserve the safety and security of each correctional facil-
 ity, all staff and all persons outside a facility who may receive incar-
 cerated individual phone calls.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00162-01-3

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