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SD 1611

An Act to repeal pay-to-stay fees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Pavel Payano

Massachusetts bill eliminates fees charged to incarcerated people for detention costs, shifting financial burden from inmates to state and county governments.

House concurred
0
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Bill Summary · SD 1611

Legislative bill overview

SD 1611 repeals Massachusetts' pay-to-stay fees, which are charges imposed on incarcerated individuals for the costs of their detention. The bill eliminates this practice statewide, preventing jails and prisons from billing inmates for housing, food, medical care, or other incarceration-related expenses.

Why is this important

Pay-to-stay fees create significant financial hardship for incarcerated people and their families, often resulting in debt that persists after release and complicates reentry. Eliminating these fees addresses equity concerns, as they disproportionately burden low-income individuals and can trap people in cycles of debt and recidivism. This shift reallocates the costs of incarceration to the state/counties rather than to those being detained.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: Counties and the state will absorb all detention costs currently charged to inmates, requiring budget adjustments or reallocation elsewhere
  • Revenue replacement: Local jails may have relied on these fees as revenue; the bill doesn't specify how lost income will be offset
  • Philosophical disagreement: Some argue incarcerated individuals should contribute to costs; others view this as punitive and counterproductive to rehabilitation

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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