Bill Text: FL S0342 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Video Visitation for Inmates/DOC [SPSC]

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Criminal Justice [S0342 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-S0342-Introduced.html

---

 
Florida Senate - 2010                                     SB 342 
 
By Senator Wilson 
33-00092-10                                            2010342__ 
1                        A bill to be entitled 
2         An act relating to video visitation for inmates; 
3         amending s. 944.09, F.S.; authorizing the Department 
4         of Corrections to adopt rules to install and operate 
5         an inmate video visitation system in the correctional 
6         facilities in this state; amending s. 944.8031, F.S.; 
7         encouraging the department to use communication 
8         technology equipment to operate an inmate video 
9         visitation system to increase the frequency and 
10         quality of the visits between an inmate and the 
11         inmate’s family; providing an effective date. 
12 
13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
14 
15         Section 1. Paragraph (s) is added to subsection (1) of 
16  section 944.09, Florida Statutes, to read: 
17         944.09 Rules of the department; offenders, probationers, 
18  and parolees.— 
19         (1) The department has authority to adopt rules pursuant to 
20  ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement its statutory authority. 
21  The rules must include rules relating to: 
22         (s) The installation and operation of an inmate video 
23  visitation system as provided in s. 944.8031. 
24         Section 2. Section 944.8031, Florida Statutes, is amended 
25  to read: 
26         944.8031 Inmate’s family visitation; legislative intent; 
27  minimum services provided to visitors; inmate video visitation 
28  system; budget requests.— 
29         (1) The Legislature finds that maintaining an inmate’s 
30  family and community relationships through enhancing visitor 
31  services and programs, and increasing the frequency and quality 
32  of the visits, and increasing access by inmates to their 
33  families by using available technologies through an inmate 
34  visitation system are is an underutilized correctional resources 
35  resource that can improve an inmate’s behavior in the 
36  correctional facility and, upon an inmate’s release from a 
37  correctional facility, will help to reduce recidivism. 
38         (2) The department shall provide, at a minimum, the 
39  following services at designated visiting areas for approved 
40  visitors in state correctional facilities: 
41         (a) Information relating to applicable visiting 
42  regulations, dress codes, and visiting procedures. 
43         (b) A sheltered area, outside the security perimeter, for 
44  visitors waiting before and after visiting inmates. 
45         (c) Food services with food choices which are nutritious 
46  and acceptable for children and youth visitors. 
47         (d) Minimal equipment and supplies which assist staff and 
48  visitors in managing and occupying the time and meeting the 
49  needs of children and youth visitors. 
50         (3) In furtherance of the intent of the Legislature, the 
51  department shall: 
52         (a) Evaluate the feasibility of installing and operating an 
53  inmate video visitation system that uses an appropriate mobile 
54  computer equipped with a web camera and microphone headset, or a 
55  preinstalled, permanently fixed kiosk, which is capable of 
56  communicating with a visitor’s personal computer at a site 
57  outside the correctional facility and is cost neutral to the 
58  state; 
59         (b) Estimate the startup and operational costs for such an 
60  inmate video visitation system; 
61         (c) Prepare a model departmental website to which visitors 
62  may communicate in order to visit an inmate; and 
63         (d) Prepare a cost schedule that is designed to require 
64  that the inmate or the inmate’s family pay all expenses 
65  associated with the privilege of using the inmate video 
66  visitation equipment. 
67         (4)(3) Upon determining any deficiencies and barriers to 
68  the effective and efficient operation of the department’s 
69  visitation program and services or the implementation and 
70  operation of the inmate video visitation system, the secretary 
71  shall submit annual budget requests identifying capital 
72  improvements, staffing, and programmatic needs necessary to 
73  improve the quality and frequency of family visits and the 
74  visitation program and services. 
75         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.