wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > SB 5231 > Substitute Bill

SB 5231 - Confinement fees & expenses

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Section 1

  1. The department shall provide persons in its custody and confined in a state correctional facility with voice communication services. Voice communication services shall be provided free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication. Voice communication services shall not be limited beyond program participation and routine facility procedures. The department shall at least maintain the same access to voice communication services in each correctional facility as the department offered as of January 1, 2025.

  2. 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. The department shall not use the provision of voice communication services to persons in its custody and confined in a state correctional facility to supplant in-person contact visits that any such person may be eligible to receive. Communication services shall not be used to replace the in-person visitation program.

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    1. The department shall:

      1. Provide tablets to all persons in its custody at no cost; and

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

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      1. The department may not replace a tablet that is broken due to malicious or intentional damage by a person in its custody until after 90 days, unless the person pays the department to replace the tablet.

      2. 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.

  6. For the purposes of this section:

    1. "Tablets" means individualized electronic devices that are enabled for voice or other communication services, or both. These devices may include other services, such as media or entertainment services.

    2. "Voice communication services" means real-time, audio-only communication services, namely phone calls.

Section 2

  1. Any contract to provide incarcerated individuals with telecommunication services and electronic media services in state correctional facilities shall be made publicly available and posted on the department's website.

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

    1. Rates for all products and services covered by the contract, with a detailed breakdown that includes taxes, surcharges, fees, and any other fees;

    2. Fees charged for money transfers and transactions, maintenance of financial accounts, and any other fee charged to the user to facilitate the money transfer or online deposit account; and

    3. All fees or costs charged to the incarcerated individual or customer in exchange for use of electronic media services through the contract.

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

    1. A summary of services offered at each correctional facility;

    2. Rates charged for, or associated with, providing each type of service including, but not limited to, monthly financial account maintenance fees, transaction fees associated with money transfers, bill statement fees, and refund fees;

    c.

A detailed summary and accounting of services used by incarcerated individuals categorized as indigent;

d. Data on usage of all telecommunications and electronic media services under the contract, including monthly call and message volume;

e. One-time and ongoing costs incurred for installing and maintaining hardware;

f. Average customer service response time rates per facility and the average time taken to resolve an issue or provide a refund for defective services; and

g. An accounting of all revenues or losses incurred by the contractor by quarter.

  1. By November 1st of each year, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the department shall report to the governor and legislature on contracts for telecommunication services and electronic media services under this section and the contractor's annual compliance with this section.

  2. 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.

  3. For the purposes of this section:

    1. "Telecommunications services" include, but are not limited to, voice communication services, video communication services, videograms, and electronic mail or messaging services.

    2. "Electronic media services" include, but are not limited to, video clips, music, and entertainment.

Section 3

This act may be known and cited as the connecting families act.

Section 4

This act takes effect December 1, 2025.

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