Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2580 by Wu (Relating to providing free access to telephone services for persons confined in county jail pending trial.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to require individuals confined in a county jail awaiting trial be provided free access to domestic telephone services. The bill authorizes the sheriff of each county jail to adopt a policy governing this use of telephone services, subject to certain restrictions.
According to the Commission on Jail Standards, no fiscal implication to the state is anticipated.
Local Government Impact
According to Harris County, the cost of the bill is estimated to be between $4 million to $6.5 million per year.
According to Galveston County, revenue in fiscal year 2018 from inmate telephone calls was $611,298, which was a significant source of revenue for the county jail.
According to Grayson County, the county jail would lose $75,000 in revenue per fiscal year.