Washington SB 6021: Reducing fees and expenses for services for people confined to correctional facilities.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to reducing fees and expenses for services for 1
people confined to correctional facilities; amending RCW 72.09.765; 2
adding a new section to chapter 72.09 RCW; and creating a new 3
section.4
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 72.09 6
RCW to read as follows:7
(1) The department shall provide persons in its custody and 8
confined in a correctional facility with voice communication 9
services. The department may supplement voice communication service 10
with other communication services including, but not limited to, 11
video communication and electronic mail or messaging services. To the 12
extent such voice communication service or any other communication 13
service is provided, which shall not be limited beyond program 14
participation and routine facility procedures, each such service 15
shall be provided free of charge to the person initiating and the 16
person receiving the communication. The department shall at least 17
maintain the same access to voice communication services and other 18
communication services in each correctional facility as the 19
department offered as of January 1, 2024.20
(2) The department shall:21
S-3785.3
SENATE BILL 6021
State of Washington 68th Legislature 2024 Regular Session
By Senators Hansen, Hasegawa, Nguyen, Nobles, Valdez, and C. Wilson
Prefiled 01/05/24. Read first time 01/08/24. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 6021

(a) Provide tablets to all persons in its custody at no cost; and1
(b) Maintain the same number of voice communication devices, 2
specifically wall phones, in each housing unit as it had on January 3
1, 2024.4
(3) The department shall not receive revenue, including any 5
commission or fee, from the provision of voice communication services 6
or any other communication services to any person confined in a 7
correctional facility.8
(4) The department shall not use the provision of voice 9
communication services or any other communication services to persons 10
in its custody and confined in a correctional facility to supplant 11
in-person contact visits that any such person may be eligible to 12
receive. Communication services shall not be used to replace the in-13
person visitation program.14
(5) For the purposes of this section:15
(a) "Voice communication services" means real-time, audio-only 16
communication services, namely phone calls.17
(b) "Other communication services" means communication services 18
other than voice communications including, but not limited to, video 19
communication and electronic mail or messaging services.20
Sec. 2. RCW 72.09.765 and 2020 c 319 s 4 are each amended to 21
read as follows:22
(1) Any contract to provide ((inmates)) incarcerated individuals 23
with ((access to)) telecommunication services and electronic media 24
services in state correctional facilities shall be made publicly 25
available and posted on the department's website.26
(2) The information in this subsection from the contract shall be 27
prominently displayed on the department's public website, posted 28
prominently in housing units, and made available on tablets:29
(a) Rates for ((facilitating telecommunication services 30
including, but not limited to, phone calls, video visitation, 31
videograms and video clips, emails, and accessing music and 32
entertainment)) all products and services covered by the contract, 33
with a detailed breakdown that includes taxes, surcharges, fees, and 34
any other fees;35
(b) Fees charged for money transfers and transactions, 36
maintenance of financial accounts, and any other fee charged to the 37
user to facilitate the money transfer or online deposit account; and38
p. 2 SB 6021

(c) All fees or costs charged to the ((inmate)) incarcerated 1
individual or customer in exchange for use of ((telecommunication 2
or)) electronic media services through the contract.3
(3) By July 1st of each year, the contractor that provides 4
((inmates)) incarcerated individuals with ((access to)) 5
telecommunication services and electronic media services under 6
subsection (1) of this section shall report to the department the 7
following information:8
(a) A summary of services offered at each correctional facility;9
(b) Rates charged for, or associated with, providing each type of 10
service including, but not limited to, monthly financial account 11
maintenance fees, transaction fees associated with money transfers, 12
((per call and connection surcharges,)) bill statement fees, and 13
refund fees;14
(c) ((A total accounting of commissions provided to the 15
department or correctional facility;16
(d))) A detailed summary and accounting of services used by 17
((inmates)) incarcerated individuals categorized as indigent;18
(d) Data on usage of all telecommunication and electronic media 19
services under the contract, including monthly call and message 20
volume;21
(e) One-time and ongoing costs incurred for installing and 22
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