inmate telephone system service contracts

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for violating contract rules, leaving these aspects unclear.

Rules for Inmate Phone Services

This bill sets rules about contracts for phone services used by inmates in Arizona prisons.

What This Bill Does

• The state department of corrections cannot enter into a contract or agreement for inmate telephone system services that allows the department to accept revenue beyond its reasonable operating costs.
• Contracts are prohibited from including commissions, profit sharing, percentage payments, up-front signing bonuses, inflated rent payments, or unrelated technologies.

Who It Names or Affects

• The state department of corrections
• Companies providing phone services to inmates

Terms To Know

Department of Corrections (DOC)

The government agency responsible for managing prisons and other correctional facilities.

Inmate telephone system

A phone service used by people who are in prison to communicate with the outside world.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if a contract violates these rules.
• The bill does not say how it will be enforced or monitored.

Official Summary Text

HB2358 - inmate telephone system service contracts

Current Bill Text

HB2358 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
inmate telephone system service contracts

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2358

Introduced by

Representatives
Crews: Aguilar, Liguori, Travers, Villegas

AN
ACT

amending title 41, chapter 11, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1604.21; relating to the state
department of corrections.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 41, chapter 11, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1604.21, to read:

START_STATUTE
41-1604.21.

Inmate telephone system service contracts; prohibited terms

The department may not enter into a contract or
agreement for inmate telephone system services that Allows the department to
accept or receive revenue in excess of the department's reasonable operating
cost for establishing and administering the inmate telephone system services
, including a contract or agreement that Allows
commissions, profit sharing, percentage payments, up-front signing bonuses,
inflated rent payments or the supplying of technologies that are unrelated to
the actual telephone service.
END_STATUTE