05/07/2025 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY

         SB  19-PRISONERS: ELECTRONIC DEVICE ACCESS/USE                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
             [CSHB 35(STA) is the companion bill.]                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
2:36:49 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN  announced the consideration  of SENATE BILL  NO. 19                                                               
"An Act relating to the  use and possession of electronic devices                                                               
by prisoners."                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  CLAMAN said  this is  the first  hearing of  SB 19  in the                                                               
Senate Judiciary Standing Committee. He  noted that he intends to                                                               
hear  the companion  bill, HB  35,  and take  invited and  public                                                               
testimony on it immediately after hearing SB 19.                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
2:37:27 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS,  speaking as sponsor,  presented SB 19.  He stated                                                               
that the  policy underlying SB  19 has been under  discussion for                                                               
about  ten  years.  The proposed  version  was  prompted  through                                                               
conversations  with the  reentry  coalitions,  the Department  of                                                               
Corrections, and  members of  the other  body. He  explained that                                                               
the bill  is intended  to address  some of  the main  concerns in                                                               
prisons and help to reduce recidivism.  He stated that one of the                                                               
primary challenges individuals face  while incarcerated is access                                                               
to education.  He said that increasing  educational opportunities                                                               
can  improve employment  prospects  upon release  and reduce  the                                                               
likelihood of  reoffending. Allowing incarcerated  individuals to                                                               
access educational materials on  tablets could have a substantial                                                               
impact on how  many gain honest employment rather than  turn to a                                                               
life of crime.                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR MYERS  said the Department of  Corrections supports SB 19                                                               
because   it  reduces   some  of   the   costs  associated   with                                                               
administrative   oversight  requirements   and   could  lead   to                                                               
reductions  in  costs across  multiple  areas.  Services such  as                                                               
telemedicine and  telephonic meetings  with counsel  would reduce                                                               
the  need   to  transport   individuals  and   monitor  in-person                                                               
appointments.  He  stated  that  tablets could  provide  a  cost-                                                               
effective method to expand access to these services.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
2:38:52 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR MYERS emphasized that  most incarcerated individuals will                                                               
eventually  return  to  their   communities  and  that  providing                                                               
rehabilitative  services  during  incarceration  is  a  proactive                                                               
attempt  to make  communities safer  once they  are released.  He                                                               
clarified that the tablets are not  intended as a luxury but as a                                                               
tool  to facilitate  access to  essential services  and resources                                                               
that  will help  reduce recidivism  rates and  promote safety  in                                                               
communities.  He stated  that while  the  state already  provides                                                               
these services to  prisoners, it could do so at  a lower cost and                                                               
with a broader  reach by implementing tablet  programs. While the                                                               
state will continue  to offer many services  in person, providing                                                               
tablets  to prisoners  would increase  their access  to education                                                               
and rehabilitation programs at a lower  cost. He said the hope is                                                               
that it will result in lower recidivism and safer communities.                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
2:39:55 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR CLAMAN held SB 19 in committee.