OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
SB-972
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COST OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
As Amended by Senate "A" (LCO 8978)
House Calendar No.: 535
Senate Calendar No.: 269
Primary Analyst: PR 5/21/21
Contributing Analyst(s):
Reviewer: ME
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 22 $ FY 23 $
Correction, Dept. GF - Cost None 3.5-4.5
million
Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection;
Correction, Dept.; Judicial Dept.
GF - Revenue
Loss
None 4.5-5.5
million
Correction, Dept. GF - Potential
Cost
None See Below
Correction, Dept. GF - Potential
Revenue Loss
None See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill requires the Department of Correction (DOC) to provide
telephone services for inmates free of charge beginning October 1, 2022
and results in various costs and revenue losses to the state. Currently,
inmates pay for each call and a portion of that money compensates the
vendor for providing the service and the remainder goes to the state to
fund various programs.
Cost Impact:
It will cost DOC approximately $3.5 to $4.5 million to
compensate the vendor for the telephone services beginning 2021SB-00972-R01-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 3
in FY 23
1
. The exact cost will depend on the inmate call
volume which could potentially increase due to the fees
being removed, inmate popula tion which has been
decreasing in recent years, and any future adjustments to the
contract between the State and the vendor.
There is a potential cost to the extent the Commissioner of
DOC adds video communication and electronic mail services
for inmates because the bill dictates that these services shall
be free of charge
2
.
Revenue Impact:
The bill results in an approximate $4.5 to $5.5 million revenue
loss to the state in FY 23
3
. This money goes to DOC for
expanding inmate educational services and reentry program
initiatives, and the remainder pays for the criminal justice
information system (in DESPP) and for probation staffing in
the Judicial Department.
There is a potential revenue loss to the extent the
Commissioner of DOC adds video communication and
electronic mail services for inmates because the bill prohibits
the DOC from receiving revenue for phone or
telecommunications services.
Senate "A" specifies that voice or other communication service
cannot be used to supplant in-person visits for juveniles in a detention
facility. It requires that all communication service for juveniles must
be free of charge. This change is not anticipated to result in a fiscal
impact as the Judicial Department already does not charge juveniles
for calls.
Currently the Judicial Department allows each juvenile 15 minutes
1
The FY 23 cost reflects 9 months due to the October 1, 2022 start date.
2
Tablets are currently provided to a limited number of inmates. Some of the services
on the tablets are provided free of charge while others have a cost.
3
The FY 23 revenue loss reflects 9 months due to the October 1, 2022 start date. 2021SB-00972-R01-FN.DOCX Page 3 of 3
per day for call to a parent, or legal guardian, as well as additional
calls to attorneys, probations officers and DCF staff. Juveniles can earn
additional phone calls time based on the behavior motivation program.
The Out Years
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ FY 26 $
Correction, Dept. GF - Cost 4.5-5.5
million
4.5-5.5
million
4.5-5.5
million
Department of
Emergency
Services and
Public Protection;
Correction, Dept.;
Judicial Dept.
GF - Revenue Loss 6-7 million 6-7 million 6-7 million
Correction, Dept. GF - Potential Cost
Correction, Dept. GF - Potential
Revenue Loss
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
The annualized cost for paying the vendor for telephone services is
approximately $4.5 to $5.5 million per year and the annualized
revenue loss is $6 to $7 million per year. The exact cost and revenue
loss will depend on the inmate call volume which could potentially
increase due to the fees being removed, inmate population which has
been decreasing in recent years, and any future adjustments to the
contract between the State and the vendor.
The preceding Fiscal Impact statement is prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly,
solely for the purposes of information, summarization and explanation and does not represent the intent of the
General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety
of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is
consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any
specific department.