Transparency Of Telecommunications Providers Correctional Facilities

The bill requires penal telecommunication service providers (providers) who that contract with a government entity to provide telecommunication services (services) to jails and other correctional facilities (jails) to maintain data and records (data) related to the services provided to jails. The bill requires providers to submit the data and a report on the services provided to the public utilities commission (commission) on a quarterly basis. An underlying carrier that contracts with a provider to provide the actual services to jails is not required to maintain or produce such data or reports. The commission is required to publish the data and report on its website in a format accessible by the public.

Current law exempts providers and the services provided from oversight by the commission. The bill grants the commission authority over providers and the services provided.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)