AB 1876 Summary

• Requires contracts for telephone services in jails and juvenile facilities be awarded to providers offering the lowest cost to consumers while meeting technical, functional, and security requirements.

• Prohibits contracts from including commissions or other payments to the jail or juvenile facility operating entity.

• Mandates telephone rates be reduced in response to elimination of commission fees.

• Requires all existing telephone service contracts in jails and juvenile facilities to be amended by January 1, 2016 to eliminate commissions and other payments, except contracts providing free services.

• Defines "jail" as county, municipal, or privately-operated jails and "juvenile facility" as juvenile halls, camps, ranches, or similar detention facilities for minors under Welfare and Institutions Code sections 601 or 602.