Senate Bill 25-208 Engrossed

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning the amount that the department of corrections

• Page 1, Line 102covers for penal communications services, and, in

• Page 1, Line 103connection therewith, making an appropriation.

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov/.)

Joint Budget Committee. Under current law, beginning July 1, 2025, the department of corrections is required to cover 100% of all inmate phone call costs. The bill changes the amount the department of corrections is required to cover, beginning July 1, 2025, to 75% of all inmate phone call costs. The bill requires the department of corrections to cover 100% of all inmate phone call costs on and after July 1, 2026. The bill appropriates $1,436,165 from the general fund to the department of corrections for inmate telephone calls.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 17-42-103, amend

• Page 2, Line 3(1.5) introductory portion, (1.5)(b), and (1.5)(c); and add (1.5)(d) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 417-42-103.  Policies concerning inmates' use of telephones -

• Page 2, Line 5excessive rates prohibited - transparency of communications services

• Page 2, Line 6in correctional facilities - report - definitions. (1.5)  In administering

• Page 2, Line 7the use of penal communications services pursuant to subsection (1) of

• Page 2, Line 8this section, access to penal communications services must not be limited

• Page 2, Line 9beyond what is necessary for routine facility operations. The department

• Page 2, Line 10shall provide penal communications services, excluding video calls or

• Page 2, Line 11electronic mail or messaging, free of charge to the person initiating and

• Page 2, Line 12the person receiving the penal communications service, and implement

• Page 2, Line 13the provision of free penal communication communications services,

• Page 2, Line 14excluding video calls or electronic mail or messaging, according to the following timeline:

• Page 2, Line 15(b)  Beginning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, the department

• Page 2, Line 16shall cover thirty-five percent of the total penal communications costs; and

• Page 2, Line 17(c)  Beginning July 1, 2025, and thereafter, the department shall

• Page 2, Line 18cover one hundred seventy-five percent of all penal communication communications costs; and

• Page 2, Line 19(d)  Beginning July 1, 2026, and thereafter, the department

• Page 2, Line 20shall cover one hundred percent of all penal communications costs.

• Page 3, Line 1SECTION 2.  Appropriation. For the 2025-26 state fiscal year,

• Page 3, Line 2$1,436,165 is appropriated to the department of corrections for use by

• Page 3, Line 3institutions. This appropriation is from the general fund. To implement

• Page 3, Line 4this act, the institutions may use this appropriation for inmate telephone calls.

• Page 3, Line 5SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly finds,

• Page 3, Line 6determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate

• Page 3, Line 7preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for

• Page 3, Line 8the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state institutions.