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HB 1953

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2025 Regular Session Introduced by Otto Wachsmann

HB 1953 would allow surcharges on inmate calls to fund security-related communications costs for state and county facilities.

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Bill Summary · HB 1953

Summary — HB 1953 (Arkansas, 95th General Assembly, 2025)

Status: Died on Calendar (Filed Jan 17, 2025; Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment)

Sponsor(s): Rep. Torres; Sen. D. Wallace
Subject: Local finance; corrections/inmate communications; county jails

Purpose / Intent

HB 1953 would have authorized the Department of Corrections (DOC) and county sheriffs to assess a surcharge on inmate telephone and video calls to offset costs of security-related equipment and operations associated with inmate communications.

Key provisions

  • Legislative findings/intent (noncodified): Authorizes the DOC Secretary to add a surcharge to inmate calls and authorizes county sheriffs to do likewise for county jails.
  • Amendments to Arkansas law:
    • Adds a use restriction to Ark. Code § 12-27-128: moneys collected under § 12-29-119 must be used only to offset security needs associated with inmate communications; Board of Corrections to set guidelines for authorized uses.
    • Amends Ark. Code § 12-29-119 (Inmate telephone calls):
    • Caps intrastate per-minute rates at no more than the FCC-determined maximum interstate per-minute rate as of Jan 1, 2021; ancillary charges limited to types/amounts authorized by the FCC as of that date.
    • Requires DOC to assess a surcharge on each inmate telephone and video call to offset security-related costs. The surcharge is:
      • Added to the vendor-collected cost per call.
      • Deposited monthly into the Division of Correction Nontax Revenue Receipts Fund.
      • The amount is to be determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State after consultation with Arkansas Legislative Audit and the Division of Correction and with Governor approval.
    • Adds subdivision to Ark. Code § 12-41-105 (county-level inmate service revenues):
    • Authorizes county sheriffs to assess a comparable surcharge on inmate telephone and video calls to offset security costs.
    • If assessed, the surcharge is added to the vendor-collected call cost and credited monthly to the county sheriff’s communications facility and equipment fund.
    • County surcharge amount to be determined by the Chief Fiscal Officer after consultation with Arkansas Legislative Audit and the Association of Arkansas Counties and with Governor approval.

Who would be affected

  • Inmates and those who fund their calls (family/friends): potential higher per-call costs due to added surcharge.
  • DOC and county sheriff offices: additional dedicated revenue to pay for security equipment/operations tied to communications.
  • Vendors providing inmate communication services: responsible for collecting and remitting the surcharge monthly.
  • Fiscal actors: Chief Fiscal Officer, Governor, Board of Corrections, Arkansas Legislative Audit, Association of Arkansas Counties (consultation roles).

Financial and procedural notes

  • Amount of surcharge is not fixed in statute; it is set administratively by the Chief Fiscal Officer after required consultations and with Governor approval.
  • Collections are to be deposited monthly into designated state or county funds and are restricted to security-related communications needs per Board guidelines.
  • The bill was reported out of committee at times but ultimately did not pass—final status: Died on Calendar.

Note: The provided document contained unrelated text from an Illinois HB1953 appropriation bill; that material is not part of this Arkansas measure.

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

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