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Senate Institutions orders DOC studies on prison phone costs and inmate wages under H.294
Summary
On April 3, 2026 the Senate Institutions committee advanced H.294 as a pair of required Department of Corrections reports: one to evaluate no‑cost telecommunications models and another to analyze inmate wage impacts. DOC estimated roughly $400,000/year to absorb current telecom service costs and about $12 million/year to raise facility wages to a minimum‑wage level.
The Vermont Senate Committee on Institutions on April 3 heard testimony on H.294, directing the Department of Corrections to deliver two written reports by Dec. 1, 2026: an evaluation of telecommunication service models and an assessment of the fiscal and operational impacts of inmate wage changes.
Representative Connor Casey, who served as reporter on the floor for the bill, told the committee the legislation began with broader ambitions — including free phone calls and higher pay — but was scaled back to require studies. "Incarcerated workers in Vermont earn between 25 cents and a buck 25 an hour," Casey said, and cellphone and video rates charged to families can add up; he argued evidence from other states suggests greater phone access can improve family connections and reduce recidivism.
The bill requires DOC to describe the current telecommunications model and contracts, quantify usage and costs, analyze alternatives…
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