GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1999

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1844

Short Title:  Prison Telephone Systems.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Nesbitt; Adams, Sherrill, and Miller.

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Referred to:  Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

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May 30, 2000

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION TO PROVIDE TELEPHONE SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT PERMIT A SINGLE VENDOR TO CONTROL THE RATES PAID BY RECIPIENTS OF INMATES' CALLS.
Whereas, telecommunications services made available to inmates in the State prison system are limited to a system that charges the recipients of phone calls from the inmates at rates that are determined by a single vendor under contract with the Department of Correction; and
Whereas, this arrangement leaves family members and acquaintances of inmates who receive calls from the inmates with  no control over the rates they must pay to communicate with the inmates; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  The Department of Correction shall provide telephone systems in all institutions in the State prison system that do not permit a single vendor to control the rates paid by the recipients of the inmates' calls, either by allowing inmates to use prepaid telephone cards, by allowing them access to competitive telecommunications providers, or by some other method that accomplishes this purpose.
Section 2.  The Department of Correction shall report to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations by October 1, 2000, on the steps it has taken to comply with this act and shall provide a report to the 2001 General Assembly on the telephone systems available to inmates in the State prison system.
Section 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.