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An Act To Provide Regulation of the Department of Corrections Telephone System by the Public Utilities Commission
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 34-A MRSA §1403, sub-§12  is enacted to read:
 
12.  Telephone system.     The department shall manage a coordinated and efficient telephone system for the use of departmental employees and in all locations managed or operated by the department, subject to the oversight and regulation responsibilities of the Public Utilities Commission as provided in Title 35-A, section 122. The commissioner may implement this section by using equipment and services of the Department of Administrative and Financial Services or by contracting for equipment and services.
Sec. 2. 35-A MRSA §122  is enacted to read:
§ 122.   Department of Corrections telephone system
The commission shall oversee and regulate the telephone system of the Department of Corrections for the use of departmental employees and in all locations managed or operated by the department.
 
1.   Rules.     The commission may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
 
2.  Annual report.     As part of its oversight and regulation duties, the commission shall provide a report by January 15th each year on the Department of Corrections telephone system, including any recommendations for improvement, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and corrections matters and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over utilities matters.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Corrections to manage a coordinated and efficient telephone system, subject to oversight and regulation by the Public Utilities Commission. The bill authorizes the department to use state equipment and services or to contract for equipment and services. The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to oversee and regulate the Department of Corrections telephone system and requires annual reports, with recommendations for improvement, to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over criminal justice and corrections matters and utilities matters.