HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A bill that would make phone calls from prison free for the families of Connecticut inmates has passed a key legislative hurdle.
The legislation was approved Tuesday by the Legislature's Appropriations Committee and heads to the full General Assembly.
Currently, inmates or their families pay just under $5 for phone calls of up to 15 minutes, the second-highest rate in the nation.
Last week, Securus, the vendor that supplies the phone service, withdrew its opposition to the bill and said it would be willing to renegotiate its contract.
In the 2018 fiscal year, Connecticut inmates made $13.2 million in calls. The state took in $7.7 million in revenue from the phone calls.
Gov. Ned Lamont's office has expressed concern over how Connecticut would make up the lost revenue.
______
(© Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)




