SB 5231 — Concerning reducing fees and expenses for services for people confined in state facilities.

S-1259.1S-0107.2 SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5231 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senate Human Services (originally sponsored by Senators Hansen, Frame, Hasegawa, Nobles, Pedersen, Valdez, and C.

Wilson)Wilson READRead FIRSTfirst TIMEtime 02/06/25.01/14/25.

ANReferred ACT Relating to reducingCommittee feeson andHuman expensesServices. for services for people confined in state correctional facilities;

AN ACT Relating to reducing fees and expenses for services for people confined in state facilities;

adding a new section to chapter 72.0972.01 RCW;

A new section is added to chapter 72.0972.01 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department shall provide persons in its custody and confined in a state correctional facility with voice communication services.

VoiceThe department may supplement voice communication servicesservice shallwith beother providedcommunication freeservices ofincluding, chargebut tonot thelimited personto, initiatingvideo communication and theelectronic personmail receivingor themessaging communication.services.

VoiceTo the extent such voice communication servicesservice or any other communication service is provided, which shall not be limited beyond program participation and routine facility procedures.procedures, each such service shall be provided free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication.

The department shall at least maintain the same access to voice communication services and other communication services in each correctionalstate facility as the department offered as of January 1, 2025.

(2)p. The department shall not receive revenue, including any commission or fee, from the provision of voice communication services to any person confined in a state correctional facility.

(3)1 SB 5231 (2) The department shall not usereceive revenue, including any commission or fee, from the provision of voice communication services toor personsany inother itscommunication custodyservices andto any person confined in a p.state facility.

1(3) SSBThe 5231department stateshall correctionalnot use the provision of voice communication services or any other communication services to persons in its custody and confined in a state facility to supplant in-person contact visits that any such person may be eligible to receive.

(4)(a)(4) The department of corrections shall:

(i)(a) Provide tablets to all persons in its custody at no cost;

and (ii)(b) Maintain the same number of voice communication devices, specifically wall phones, in each housing unit as it had on January 1, 2025.

(b)(i)(5) TheIf the department mayof notchildren, replaceyouth, aand tabletfamilies thatprovides istablets broken due to maliciouspersons or intentional damage by a person in its custodycustody, untilthe aftertablets 90shall days,be unlessprovided theat personno payscost the department to replace the tablet.person.

(ii) If a tablet is used by a confined person in the furtherance of a crime, the individual shall lose access to the tablet pursuant to policies established by the department.

(5) The department may not limit or interrupt the duration of voice communication services provided through tablets or other individualized devices issued to persons in its custody.

The department may limit the duration of voice communication services provided through wall phones.

(a) "Tablets""Voice meanscommunication individualizedservices" electronicmeans devicesreal-time, thataudio-only are enabled for voice or other communication services, ornamely both.phone calls.

These(b) devices"Other maycommunication includeservices" means communication services other services,than suchvoice ascommunications mediaincluding, but not limited to, video communication and electronic mail or entertainmentmessaging services.

(b)(c) "Voice"Confined" communicationor services""confinement" means real-time,incarcerated audio-onlyor communicationdetained services,in namelya phonecorrectional calls.institution as defined in RCW 9.94.049 under the custody of the department of corrections or department of children, youth, and families.

(d) "Department" means the department of corrections and department of children, youth, and families.

(2) The information in this subsection from the contract shall be prominently displayed on the department's public website, posted prominently in housing unitsunits, with printed copies available in each housing unit, and made available on lawtablets: library computers:

(a) Rates for ((facilitating telecommunication services including, but not limited to, phone calls, video visitation, p.

2 SSBSB 5231 (a) Rates for ((facilitating telecommunication services including, but not limited to, phone calls, video visitation, videograms and video clips, emails, and accessing music and entertainment)) all products and services covered by the contract, with a detailed breakdown that includes taxes, surcharges, fees, and any other fees;

(3) By July 1st of each year, the contractor that provides ((inmates)) incarcerated individuals with ((access to)) telecommunication services and electronic media services under subsection (1) of this section shall report to the department the following information,information: which must be posted prominently on the department's public website:

3 SSBSB 5231 electronic media services under this section and the contractor's annual compliance with this section.

(5) This section applies to any new contract and to any contract in effect on June 11, 2020, and to any renegotiation, renewal, modification, or extension of such contract.

4 SSBSB 5231