Bill

A 2608

Creates parity for incarcerated individual telephone services for international calls to family members

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn and 10 co-sponsors

Establish parity between international and domestic inmate calls in price and terms, lowering costs and access barriers for inmates and their families.

REFERRED TO CORRECTION

WeVote Research Nonpartisan

Bill Summary · A 2608

Bill A 2608 — Summary

Overview

Bill A 2608 is a New York State proposal titled “Creates parity for incarcerated individual telephone services for international calls to family members.” The bill’s stated aim is to ensure parity between international and domestic inmate telephone services, specifically regarding calls placed to family members. The legislative status is early, with the bill referred to the Correction Committee on January 21, 2025.

What the bill would do (Key Provisions)

Establish parity between international inmate telephone calls and domestic calls in terms of pricing and service terms. In other words, international calls would be governed by the same or equivalent pricing structures and service rules as domestic inmate calls.
The bill’s text would define how parity is achieved, including any pricing, rate structures, surcharges, or service terms applicable to international calls to family members. (Note: specific rate caps or detailed mechanisms are not provided in the available summary.)

Who would be affected

Incarcerated individuals who wish to contact family members internationally.
Families of incarcerated individuals, who would experience changes in the affordability and accessibility of international calls.
Correctional facilities and their contracted or in-house telephone service providers, which would need to align international call pricing and terms with domestic parity standards.
State or local correctional system operators responsible for administering inmate communications.

Legislative history and procedure

Introduced: January 21, 2025.
Current status: REFERRED TO CORRECTION (appears twice in the provided records, indicating the same action on the same date).
The bill has related/companion activity in other bills and sessions (see below).

Related bills

A 6417 (prior-session bill – related)
S 7557 (companion bill in the Senate)

Potential impacts and considerations

Access and affordability: If parity is achieved, families could face lower or more predictable costs for international calls, reducing financial barriers to maintaining contact with incarcerated relatives.
Operational requirements: Correctional facilities and telecom providers may incur administrative or contractual adjustments to align international call terms with domestic parity standards.
Equity and outreach: The measure may promote equal treatment of inmates’ communications regardless of whether calls are domestic or international, potentially affecting other related fees or restrictions.
Fiscal effects: The summary does not provide fiscal notes; potential costs or savings would depend on the parity rules adopted (rate caps, waivers, or pricing models) and any resulting changes in call volume.

Notes: Specific statutory language, definitions, and exact implementation details are not provided in the available information. The bill's future trajectory will depend on committee action, potential amendments, and floor consideration.

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