House Bill 1088

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION SHALL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE AMOUNT CHARGED FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR INMATES; TO AMEND SECTION 25-53-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The Public Service Commission shall solely regulate the amount charged for telephone service for inmates under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections.

SECTION 2. Section 25-53-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

25-53-111. The bureau shall have the following additional duties:

(a) To establish and coordinate through either state ownership or commercial leasing, all telecommunications systems and services affecting the management and operations of the state.

(b) To act as the sole centralized customer for the acquisition, billing and record keeping of all telecommunications systems or services provided to state agencies whether obtained through lease or purchase.

(c) To charge respective user agencies for their proportionate cost of the installation, maintenance and operation of the telecommunications systems and services, including the operation of the bureau; however, the amount charged for telephone services for inmates, who are under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections, shall be regulated solely by the Public Service Commission.

(d) To offer or provide transmission, switch and network services on a reimbursable basis to agencies financed entirely by federal funds, to governing authorities and to other governmental agencies.

(e) To approve or provide state telephone services on a reimbursable basis to full-time students at state institutions of higher learning and junior colleges, including where such services are provided by the state or the institution.

(f) To develop coordinated telecommunications systems or services within and among all state agencies and require, where appropriate, cooperative utilization of telecommunications equipment and services by aggregating users. Where such cooperative utilization of telecommunications system or service would affect an agency authorized to receive information from the National Crime Information Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, such plans for cooperative utilization shall first be approved by the National Crime Information Center before implementation of such telecommunications systems or service can proceed.

(g) To review, coordinate, approve or disapprove all requests by state agencies for the procurement, through purchase or contract for lease of telecommunications systems or services including telecommunication proposals, studies and consultation contracts and intra-LATA and inter-LATA transmission channels.

(h) To establish and define telecommunications systems and services specifications and designs so as to assure compatibility of telecommunications systems and services within state government and governing authorities.

(i) To provide a continuous, comprehensive analysis and inventory of telecommunications costs, facilities and systems within state government.

(j) To promote, coordinate or assist in the design and engineering of emergency telecommunications systems, including but not limited to "911" service, emergency medical services and other emergency telecommunications services.

(k) To advise and provide consultation to agencies and governing authorities with respect to telecommunications management planning and related matters and to provide training to users within state government in telecommunications technology and system use.

(l) To develop policies, procedures and long-range plans, consistent with the protection of citizens' rights to privacy and access to information, for the acquisition and use of telecommunications systems, and to base such policies on current information about state telecommunications activities in relation to the full range of emerging technologies.

Any state agency requesting an increase in expenditure of funds for new telecommunications equipment systems or services shall submit to the Legislative Budget Office with its budget request preceding the fiscal year for which funding is requested detailed justification for such request. The justification shall be provided on forms developed by the bureau in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. In addition, all state agencies shall submit to the bureau, when requested, a long-range plan for use of telecommunications equipment, systems and services.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.