South Carolina General Assembly
113th Session, 1999-2000

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Bill 1289


Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


                    Current Status

Bill Number:                      1289
Type of Legislation:              Joint Resolution JR
Introducing Body:                 Senate
Introduced Date:                  20000329
Primary Sponsor:                  Anderson
All Sponsors:                     Anderson, Bryan, Ford, Patterson, 
                                  Jackson, Ravenel, Fair, Branton, Washington 
                                  and Matthews
Drafted Document Number:          l:\s-res\ra\002tele.barden.doc
Residing Body:                    Senate
Current Committee:                Finance Committee 06 SF
Subject:                          Communication Services Study Committee, 
                                  if system charges inhibit family from 
                                  telephone use to prisoner; Corrections


                        History

Body    Date      Action Description                     Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  ______________________________________ _______ ____________
Senate  20000329  Introduced, read first time,           06 SF
                  referred to Committee


              Versions of This Bill

View additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A JOINT RESOLUTION

TO ESTABLISH A JOINT COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE COMMUNICATION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE STATE SO AS TO DETERMINE WHETHER CURRENT COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CHARGES ARE APPROPRIATE AND DO NOT INHIBIT THE ABILITY OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES TO COMMUNICATE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED; TO REVIEW ALL COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES AND EXPENDITURES INCLUDING ALL CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES, DEVICES, EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS APPROVED, LEASED OR USED BY THE STATE FOR COMMUNICATION PURPOSES; TO PROVIDE AN ANALYSIS OF REVENUES GENERATED TO THE STATE; TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF WHETHER ANY SYSTEM SAVINGS COULD RESULT FROM PRIVATIZATION OF SOME OR ALL OF THE STATES' COMMUNICATION NETWORK; AND TO REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ANY RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE APRIL 1, 2001.

Whereas, there is a compelling interest on behalf of the State to rehabilitate individuals incarcerated in correctional institutions; and

Whereas, inmates must have frequent and regular communications with their family if their rehabilitation and release back into the public is going to be complete and successful; and

Whereas, unreasonable charges for toll or collect telephone calls hurt low income families and deprive them of having an appropriate and reasonable opportunity to communicate with their family members who are incarnated; and

Whereas, it is in the best interest of the taxpayers of this State to assist in producing a person who is rehabilitated and prepared to reenter society as a productive citizen; and

Whereas, a critical part of this rehabilitation is keeping an inmate in touch with his or her family and community social structure; and

Whereas, there is a public interest to be served by ensuring that the State uses its full capacity to provide for and foster this communication; and

Whereas, in order to make an informed decision there is a necessity to review all communication activities and expenditures carried on or made by the State, including but not limited to the provision of any communication or transmission service as well as all contracts for services, devices and equipment. Now, therefore;

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. (A) There is established a special joint committee to study the State's communication network to determine if services and rates provided by or for and/or contracted for on behalf of the State at correctional facilities and other governmental properties are set at reasonable rates. The joint committee must review rate structures and the manner in which such rates are applied across state government so as to determine whether rate structures established by the state are reasonable and equitable. In completing this review, the joint committee must examine all contracts for services, devices, equipment and/or products approved, leased, or in any other manner employed or used by the State. As well, the joint committee must perform a complete analysis of all income, expenditures, revenues and/or retained earnings or reserves generated by or resulting from the operation of the state communication network. The joint committee must analyze the assembled information to assess and make a finding as to whether or not the operation of the state communication network adversely impacts the ability of low income families to communicate with their family members in state penal institutions. The joint committee must include in it's a findings, such information as may be useful on the advisability of allowing state agencies to privatize communication services.

(B) The committee is comprised of eight members, four each to be appointed from the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee by the respective committee chairmen. The committee must be staffed by personnel of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. The committee must submit a report and recommendations to the General Assembly not later than April 1, 2001.

SECTION 2. This joint resolution takes effect upon approval of the Governor.

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