123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 91		LR 1064(01)
	An Act To Provide Regulation of the Department of Corrections Telephone System by the Public Utilities Commission
	Fiscal Note for Original Bill
	Sponsor: Sen. Strimling of Cumberland
	Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Potential current biennium revenue decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	The additional costs to the Department of Corrections (DOC) to manage a coordinated and efficient telephone system as required by this bill can not be determined at this time and are dependent on rules and regulations imposed on the DOC by the Public Utilities Commission.  If the PUC eliminates the commissions charged to inmates for telephone calls there would be a loss of revenue to the Inmate Benefit Fund of $600,000 annually.  Inmate programs and activities are currently paid from this fund.  The Department of Corrections has identified that the Office of Information Technology has invested approximately $900,000 in one-time hardware costs and there is a $1,000,000 commitment to a software developer.  Additional costs to the PUC for rulemaking, ongoing oversight and annual reporting on the telephone system can be absorbed by the commission utilizing existing budgeted resources.