Read the full stored bill text
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3118
Ordered by the House April 9
Including House Amendments dated April 9
Sponsored by Representatives CHOTZEN, NERON, Senators PROZANSKI, GELSER BLOUIN; Representatives
ANDERSEN, HUDSON, Senators CAMPOS, FREDERICK, GORSEK, JAMA, REYNOLDS (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act would tell DOC to make some voice communications services free for
persons in custody. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).
[Digest: The Act would tell DOC to give persons in custody access to some communication services
for free. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.1). ]
Requires the Department of Corrections to enter into a contract , or renegotiate an existing
contract, with a third party to provide voice communications services at no cost to persons con-
fined at a Department of Corrections institution.
Prohibits the receipt of financial or in-kind compensation by the department for providing voice
communications services to persons in custody.
Directs the department to submit a progress report on the implementation of the Act to the
Legislative Assembly by February 1, 2026, and a biennial report on certain data to the Legislative
Assembly no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to communications services for persons in custody; creating new provisions; and amending
ORS 421.076.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 421.076 is amended to read:
421.076. [(1) The Department of Corrections may enter into a contract with an inmate telephone
services provider in which the provider provides inmate telephone services or other inmate communi-
cations systems at the provider’s cost and reimburses the department: ]
[(a) For the department’s internal and external costs to oversee and manage the inmate telephone
services or communications system; and ]
[(b) To pay third party providers. ]
[(2) The department may not enter into a contract with an inmate telephone services provider that
authorizes the department to receive a fee or commission for telephone services provided to inmates
other than the reimbursement described in subsection (1) of this section. ]
(1) The Department of Corrections shall enter into a contract, or renegotiate an existing
contract, with a third party to provide voice communications services to all persons confined
at a Department of Corrections institution.
(2)(a) For any person confined at a Department of Corrections institution who accesses
60 minutes or more of voice communications services on a specific day, the department shall
provide at least 60 minutes of the services at no direct or indirect cost to the person confined
at the Department of Corrections institution or the person who is communicating with the
person confined at the Department of Corrections institution.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 813
A-Eng. HB 3118
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(b) For any person confined at a Department of Corrections institution who accesses
fewer than 60 minutes of voice communications services on a specific day, the department
shall provide the services at no direct or indirect cost to the person confined at the De-
partment of Corrections institution or the person who is communicating with the person
confined at the Department of Corrections institution.
(3) The department may not receive any financial or in-kind compensation from any third
party provider in relation to the provision of voice communications services under subsection
(1) of this section.
(4)(a) Except pursuant to rules adopted by the department, the department may not limit
access to voice communications services for persons confined at a Department of Cor-
rections institution.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, the department may not limit ac-
cess to in-person visitations or voice communications services to offset the cost or time of
administering this section.
(5)(a) The department shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and
may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative
Assembly related to the judiciary no later than September 15 of each even-numbered year.
(b) The report must include:
(A) A copy of any contract for voice communications services entered into by the de-
partment and a third party under subsection (1) of this section, including any amendments
to the contract;
(B) A detailed accounting of expenditures by the department during the prior biennium
to administer this section; and
(C) Data on the usage of all voice communications services by persons confined at a De-
partment of Corrections institution, including monthly data disaggregated by the type of
communication.
(6) The department may adopt rules necessary to administer this section.
(7) As used in this section, “voice communications services” means voice communication
by telephone, cellular telephone, Voice over Internet Protocol or other technology that al-
lows for real-time audio communication between people in different locations.
SECTION 2.
(1) The Department of Corrections shall submit a progress report on the
implementation status of section 1 of this 2025 Act in the manner provided by ORS 192.245,
and may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legisla-
tive Assembly related to the judiciary no later than February 1, 2026.
(2) The department shall submit the first report required under section 1 (5) of this 2025
Act no later than September 15, 2026.
SECTION 3. Section 2 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2027.
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