Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 7. LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 32. LAW ENFORCEMENT

Part 22. Detention Centers

Detention Center Telecommunications Contracts -- Definition

7-32-2235. (Effective April 30, 2024) Detention center telecommunications contracts -- definition. (1) A county detention center that contracts with a telecommunications service provider to provide telecommunications services for inmates may join any telecommunications contract with the same per-minute fee as the department of corrections. A county detention center may not enter into a separate telecommunications contract unless the per-minute fee does not exceed the current rate allowed by the federal communications commission but not more than 21 cents a minute.

(2) Each week, an inmate is allowed one free telephone call, not to exceed 10 minutes, and one free video call, not to exceed 25 minutes, to the extent that video calling is offered at the detention center.

(3) An inmate telecommunications contract may not include ancillary service fees, including prepaid telephone cards, collect calls, and single pay calls that total more than 3% of the base charge.

(4) "Telecommunications service provider" has the meaning provided for "operator service provider" in 69-3-1102.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 11, L. 2023.