HB 2746 Summary

• Requires free voice communication services (phone calls) in all Hawaii youth and adult correctional facilities for both incarcerated persons and recipients of calls, effective July 1, 2024.

• Prohibits state agencies from deriving any revenue or financial benefit from communication services provided to incarcerated persons.

• Amends the automated victim information and notification system special fund to receive only general fund appropriations and interest earnings (eliminating previous revenue sources from inmate commissary surcharges and telephone service commissions), with a maximum balance of $600,000 per fiscal year.

• Appropriates unspecified amounts from general revenues for fiscal year 2024-2025 to fund free voice communication services in youth facilities and adult correctional facilities, and to fund the victim notification system.

• Declares that appropriations in this act exceed the state general fund expenditure ceiling for fiscal year 2024-2025, requiring constitutional authorization under article VII, section 9 of Hawaii's Constitution.