An Act amending Title 61 (Prisons and Parole) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in miscellaneous provisions relating to official visitation, providing for communications services for inmates in State or county correctional institutions.

This bill requires Pennsylvania prisons and county jails to provide free voice communication services to all inmates, ensuring access levels match those available as of January 1, 2023. The law mandates a specific ratio of operable phones to inmates in housing units and recreational yards while prohibiting any fees for making or receiving calls. To fund these services, the state will appropriate $16.5 million annually, with 70% going to the Department of Corrections and 30% distributed to counties based on their inmate populations. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that these communication tools cannot replace in-person visitation programs and must not limit existing face-to-face contact.