HB673:

Correctional facilities; fees.

Bill Summary:

Local correctional facilities; fees. Eliminates certain fees charged to inmates within a local correctional facility, including a fee to defray the costs associated with an inmate's keep, travel and other expenses associated with an inmate's work release employment or participation in an educational or rehabilitative program, and telephone systems. The bill also reduces certain fees charged to inmates within a local correctional facility, providing that the cost of items within a correctional facility's store or commissary shall not exceed 10 percent of the typical market rate for the same goods or services and that the fee associated with electronic visitation and messaging systems shall not exceed the actual costs of establishing and operating such systems. The bill removes provisions that if an inmate is unable to pay in full such fees, the inmate must enter into a deferred or installment payment agreement with the local correctional facility, or that such facility may enter into a contract for collection of such fees with a private entity, a local governing body, or the county or city treasurer. The bill also provides that, upon discharge from a local correctional facility, an inmate shall receive, in the form of a check, electronic transfer, or a debit or other account card, the balance of all accounts maintained by the facility for an inmate's use.