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After sheriff testimony, sponsor withdraws inmate‑phone fee bill for further negotiation
Summary
Senator Allen Clark withdrew SB 550 after county sheriffs and the Arkansas Sheriffs Association described reliance on phone revenue and said vendors typically charge about 25–30¢ per minute; Clark said he will work with stakeholders on caps and a transition timetable.
The Senate State Agencies & Governmental Affairs committee heard extended testimony on Senate Bill 550, which would limit or regulate fees charged for phone calls by inmates, before the sponsor withdrew the measure for further negotiation.
Senator Allen Clark introduced SB 550 and said he intended to run the bill but expected opposition. He recounted a report of a three‑minute call costing $35 and said he was sympathetic both to families and to sheriffs who rely on phone revenue to run jails.
Scott Bradley, director of…
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