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1997 Session

Budget Amendments - HB1600 (Committee Approved)

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JLARC-inmate telephone system recommendation (language only)

Item 452 #3h

Item 452 #3h

Public Safety
Corrections, Department of

Language
Page 294, after line 52, insert:
"D.1. In procuring inmate telephone services to be effective January 1, 1998, the Department of Corrections shall consult with the Department of Information Technology in the development of the request for proposal (RFP), evaluation of the submitted responses to the RFP, and negotiations and development of the contract.
2. In negotiating such contract, the Department should attempt to keep rates charged recipients of inmate calls from Department of Corrections operated facilities at a level that does not exceed collect call rates and surcharges charged public customers.  Negotiations should seek to establish a benchmark calling cost rate such as an industry dominant long distance carrier's interLATA and interstate rates for public long distance collect calls, or the serving local exchange carrier (LEC) for local or intraLATA rates for public collect calls, including time and day of week sensitivity when applicable, and shall utilize a least-cost routing system.
3. The Department of Corrections shall require the contractor to provide:
a. Inmate calling data in an automated format.  Data provided shall include, but not be limited to, originating phone number, billed phone number, date and time of call, length of call, surcharge, and toll or per minute charges.  The Department of Corrections, in consultation with the Department of Information Technology, shall develop procedures for automated audits and service evaluations of the inmate phone system.
b. An annual report from an independent auditing firm verifying that the contractor's timing and billing systems are accurate and completely record all calls made.
c. The Department of Corrections with at least 30 days written notice of pending rate charges and the new rates to be charged.
d. A means for limiting inmate calls only to those persons on a pre-approved list."


Explanation
(This amendment implements the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study of the inmate telephone system.)