AK HB330

Allows prisoners to possess computers and electronic tablets if approved by the correctional facility for rehabilitation, reentry planning, employment, education, vocational training, legal reference materials, visitation, or health care purposes.

Prohibits state correctional facilities from charging fees for services offered on electronic tablets used by inmates or people outside the facility.

Requires the commissioner to determine necessity before the department enters into contracts with for-profit technology vendors and prohibits vendors from having sole authority to determine contract termination or device replacement timing.

Maintains existing restrictions on prisoner possession of certain materials and activities, including obscene materials, weapons-related publications, and martial arts instruction.

New rules apply to services used by prisoners on or after the effective date and to vendor contracts entered into on or after the effective date.