Senate Bill No. 972
Public Act No. 21-54
AN ACT CONCERNING COMMUNICATION SERVICES IN
CORRECTIONAL AND JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of
Correction shall not use the provision of voice communication service
or any other communication service to persons who are in the custody
of the commissioner and confined in a correctional facility to supplant
in-person contact visits any such person may be eligible to receive.
(b) On and after October 1, 2022, the commissioner shall provide
voice communication service to persons who are in the custody of the
commissioner and confined in a correctional facility. The commissioner
may supplement such voice communication service with any other
communication service, including, but not limited to, video
communication and electronic mail services. Any such communication
service shall be provided free of charge to such persons and any
communication, whether initiated or received through any such service,
shall be free of charge to the person initiating or receiving the
communication.
(c) On and after October 1, 2022, the state shall not receive revenue
for the provision of any communication service to any person in the Senate Bill No. 972
Public Act No. 21-54 2 of 2
custody of the commissioner and confined in a correctional facility.
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The executive director of the
Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch shall not use the
provision of voice communication service or any other communication
service to a child who is detained in a juvenile detention facility to
supplant in-person contact visits any such child may be eligible to
receive.
(b) On and after October 1, 2022, the executive director shall provide
voice communication service to any child who is detained in a juvenile
detention facility. The executive director may supplement such voice
communication service with any other communication service,
including, but not limited to, video communication and electronic mail
services. Any such communication service shall be provided free of
charge to such child and any communication, whether initiated or
received through any such service, shall be free of charge to the person
or child initiating or receiving the communication.
(c) On and after October 1, 2022, the state shall not receive revenue
for the provision of any communication service to any child detained in
a juvenile detention center.
(d) For purposes of this section, "child" has the same meaning as
provided in section 46b-120 of the general statutes.
Sec. 3. Sections 18-81x and 54-105a of the general statutes are
repealed. (Effective October 1, 2022)