HLS 20RS-1115 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 725
BY REPRESENTATIVE MARCELLE
PUBLIC SERVICE COMN: Provides relative to telecommunication services to persons
incarcerated in a correctional facility
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 15:714 and R.S. 39:1756, relative to telecommunication services to persons
3 incarcerated in correctional facilities; to prohibit telecommunication services from
4 charging the person incarcerated in a correctional facility or the person accepting the
5 call from the incarcerated person; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 15:714 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §714. Telecommunication services at correctional facilities; charges prohibited;
9 compliance with Louisiana Procurement Code
10 A. No telecommunication service provided to persons who are incarcerated
11 in correctional facilities shall include a charge to the incarcerated person or to the
12 person accepting a telephone call from the incarcerated person.
13 B. Any negotiation for procurement of telecommunication services at
14 correctional facilities shall be conducted in accordance with and subject to the
15 requirements of telecommunication procurement procedures under the provisions of
16 the Louisiana Procurement Code, R.S. 39:1751 et seq.
17 Section 2. R.S. 39:1756 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
18 §1756. Telecommunication services at correctional facilities; charges prohibited
19 A. No telecommunication service provided to persons who are incarcerated
20 in correctional facilities shall include a charge to the incarcerated person or to the
21 person accepting a telephone call from the incarcerated person.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-1115 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 725
1 B. No contract for telecommunication services provided to persons
2 incarcerated in correctional facilities in the state shall include provisions which
3 authorize charges to the person incarcerated in the correctional facility or the person
4 accepting a telephone call from the incarcerated person.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 725 Original 2020 Regular Session Marcelle
Abstract: Prohibits a telecommunication service from charging persons incarcerated in a
correctional facility or the person accepting a call from the incarcerated person.
Present law authorizes the office of telecommunications management, through the state
purchasing office, to enter into telecommunication services contracts on behalf of any state
agency.
Proposed law retains present law and prohibits any telecommunication service from charging
a person incarcerated in a correctional facility or any person accepting a call from the
incarcerated person, and prohibits any contract for telecommunication services provided to
persons incarcerated in correctional facilities in the state from including provisions which
authorize charges to the person incarcerated in the correctional facility or the person
accepting a telephone call from the incarcerated person.
(Adds R.S. 15:714 and R.S. 39:1756)
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.