Section 177 No Cost Calls 4

(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no voice communication services contract in force on the effective date of this act shall be affected by section 71; provided, that voice communication services shall be free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication on January 1, 2023; provided further, that other communication services offered pursuant to said section 71, including, but not limited to, video and electronic communication services shall be offered free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication on January 1, 2023.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, upon the expiration of any contract for voice communication services the department of corrections and the sheriffs shall seek to maximize purchasing power and consolidate contracts to the extent feasible; provided, that not later than July 1, 2023, the department of correction and the sheriffs shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on the judiciary on the status of any communication services contracts and plans to consolidate contracts to maximize purchasing power for voice communication services.

(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary any financial incentive received in connection with a voice communication services or other communication services contract, including, but not limited to a commission, shall revert to the General Fund.

(d) Any service, benefit or program for incarcerated people to which commissary commissions were specifically designated in fiscal year 2022 including, but not limited to, the Inmate Benefit Fund, The Law Library and the Central Program Account in the state prison system, shall be funded by the department of correction and the sheriffs at not less than the level of funding in fiscal year 2022.