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Commission reviews MOU for iris biometric ID and ACA enrollment for detainees; officials cite savings and raise data-use questions
Summary
Montgomery County considered a memorandum of understanding to use IRIS iris-recognition technology and no-cost Affordable Care Act enrollment services for detainees, a program presenters said could save the county about $38,000 a year.
Montgomery County commissioners reviewed a memorandum of understanding with Trinity Corrections Care LLC and Resident Health Care Advisors LLC to deploy IRIS iris-recognition technology in the county jail and to enroll eligible detainees in Affordable Care Act coverage at no cost to the county.
A presenter identified the arrangement as a partnership with BI2 Technologies for iris identification and described the enrollment work as provided by trained agents. The presenter said the program would provide pretrial detainees with ACA coverage upon release and could reduce outside medical costs for the county; the transcript records a projected savings of “38,000 a year.”
Commissioners raised privacy questions. One commissioner said they were “a little amazed” the program was at no cost and asked, “what are they gonna be doing with that data?” The presenter said the sheriff would be able to use the iris matches internally by integrating the IRIS system with the jail management system and that the company is already in use in sheriff’s offices nationwide. The presenter added that if an incoming detainee is in iris databases from another jurisdiction, the scan can identify the person and avoid misidentification caused by false names.
The transcript does not record a final vote on the memorandum; staff described the agreement as a joint initiative between the sheriff and the vendor and said the service is provided at no charge to the county.
