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.