Section 71 No Cost Calls 3

Said chapter 127 is hereby further amended by inserting after section 87 the following section:-

Section 87A. (a) For the purposes of this section, the terms "state correctional facilities", "state prison" and "county correctional facility" shall have the same meanings as in section 1 of chapter 125.

(b) The department of correction and sheriffs shall provide persons committed to state correctional facilities, state prisons and county correctional facilities, including jails and houses of correction, with voice communication services, including phone calls, free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication; provided, however, that voice communication services shall be maximized to the extent possible and nothing in this section shall further limit or restrict access to voice communication services as the services were offered and available at such facilities on July 1, 2022; and provided further, that nothing in this section shall prohibit in-person contact visits.

(c) The department of correction and sheriffs may supplement voice communication services with other communication services, including, but not limited to, video and electronic communication services; provided, however, that other communication services shall not replace voice communication services; and provided further, that other communication services shall be provided free of charge to the person initiating and the person receiving the communication.