Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Corrections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
House directs prison phone surcharge to prisoner education programs
Summary
HB234 passed the House 67–4, directing the 48% surcharge on inmate collect calls into a restricted account to fund education and training programs at correctional facilities; supporters said the change would help institutions run prison education without tuition revenue.
The Utah House passed House Bill 234 on Feb. 15 by a 67–4 vote, directing the state’s 48% surcharge on inmate collect calls into a restricted account designated to fund education and training programs for prisoners.
Representative Brent Goodfellow, sponsor of the bill, described the state's ITS internal service fund practice and said the current 48% surcharge on inmate collect calls generates an estimated $900,000 per year. The bill would capture that surcharge and use it to support prison education programs delivered by Utah State University, Salt Lake Community College and Snow College. "What this bill would do is capture that 48% surcharge and put it in a restricted account," Goodfellow said, arguing the funds would support inmate education that currently runs in the red.
Supporters said education and training reduce recidivism and provide productive programming; there was no recorded floor opposition sufficient to block passage. The bill will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration.
