Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §1565 is enacted to read:

§1565.__Visitation by videoconferencing

1.__Visitation by videoconferencing.__Notwithstanding any rule or institutional procedure, a sheriff in charge of a county jail may authorize prisoners who are entitled to in- person visitation with family or friends to have visitation by videoconferencing.__Videoconferencing may be used as a substitute for in-person visitation only with the prisoner's consent.__For the purposes of this section, "videoconferencing" means the transmission of synchronized images and speech between physically separate locations.

2.__Application.__Visitation by videoconferencing is allowed only for visitation by a prisoner's family or friends.__ Visitation by a prisoner's legal counsel, religious advisor or clergy must be in person.

3.__Rules.__A sheriff may establish procedures necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

SUMMARY

This bill authorizes a county sheriff to allow a county jail to provide a prisoner with visitation with friends or family by videoconferencing, rather than in person, with the prisoner's consent. The bill specifies that visitation by a prisoner's attorney or religious advisor must be in person.