Researcher: DC Page 1 5/21/21
OLR Bill Analysis
SB 972 (File 453, as amended by Senate "A")*
AN ACT CONCERNING THE COST OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
SERVICES IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
SUMMARY
Starting October 1, 2022, this bill requires the Department of
Correction (DOC) and the judicial branch’s Court Support Services
Division (CSSD) to, respectively, provide telephone services for
inmates in correctional facilities and children detained in a juvenile
detention facility (see BACKGROUND).
The bill allows the commissioner and CSSD executive director to
supplement phone services with other telecommunications services,
including video communication and email. Any communication
service the commissioner and executive director provide must be free
of charge to the inmates or children and to the people who initiate or
receive the communication.
The bill prohibits (1) the DOC commissioner and executive director
from supplanting in-person contact visits with phone or other
communication services and (2) the state from receiving revenue for
these phone or telecommunications services on and after October 1,
2022.
The bill also repeals the laws requiring the Department of
Administrative Services to transfer some of the revenue derived from
inmate phone calls to:
1. the Judicial Department for probation transition program and
technical violation unit staff and services and
2. DOC to expand inmate educational services and re-entry
initiatives. 2021SB-00972-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: DC Page 2 5/21/21
*Senate Amendment “A” adds the provisions regarding children
detained in a juvenile facility.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except the repealer section is
effective on October 1, 2022.
BACKGROUND
Child
By law, a child is generally anyone under age 18 who is not legally
emancipated, but for delinquency matters and proceedings the
definition includes a person who:
1. was at least age 7 when he or she committed the alleged
delinquent act and is (a) under age 18 and not legally
emancipated or (b) age 18 or older but committed the act when
under age 18 or
2. is over 18 and (a) violates a court order or probation condition
related to a delinquency proceeding or (b) willfully fails to
appear in response to a summons or at any other delinquency
proceeding for which he or she received notice (CGS § 46b-120).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Judiciary Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 24 Nay 13 (03/29/2021)
Appropriations Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 46 Nay 2 (05/03/2021)