Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes tablet use in prisons in Alaska.

Highlights:

• Prohibits the commissioner from (Sec. 1):

• Making per capita expenditures for food for prisoners in a state correctional facility operated by the state that exceed 90 percent of per capita expenditures for food that is available to enlisted personnel in the United States Army stationed in the state;

• Providing living quarters for a prisoner in which the view is obstructed, equipment or facilities for publishing or broadcasting material the content of which is not subject to prior approval by the department and cable television service other than a level of basic cable television service that is available as a substitute for services that are broadcast to the public in the community;

• Allowing a prisoner held in a state correctional facility operated by the state to possess in the prisoner's cell a cassette tape player or recorder, video cassette recorder, telephone, computer, or electronic tablet.

• Allowing a prisoner held in a state correctional facility operated by the state to view movies rated "R," "X," or "NC-17" or possess printed or photographic material that is obscene,c ould reasonably be expected to incite racial, ethnic, or religious hatred or could reasonably be expected to aid in an escape

• Receive instruction in person, or by broadcast medium, or engage in boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, or other martial arts or in any activity that, in the commissioner's discretion, would facilitate violent behavior;

• Possess in the prisoner's cell a coffee pot, hot plate, appliance, or heating element for food preparation, or more than three electrical appliances of any kind;

• Possess or appear in a state of dress, hygiene, grooming, or appearance other than as permitted as uniform or standard in the correctional facility;

• Use a computer or electronic tablet other than those approved by the correctional facility; the use of a computer or electronic tablet under this subparagraph may be approved to facilitate the prisoner's compliance with a reentry plan or case plan developed or as part of the prisoner's rehabilitation, employment, education, or vocational training, access to legal reference materials, visitation, or health care, or for another purpose identified by the commissioner in regulation, and may not be used for any other purpose;

• Allow a state correctional facility operated by the state to charge a fee for electronic mail or electronic visitation services.

• Prohibits the commissioner from replacing in-person visitation with the use of a computer or electronic tablet (Sec. 2).

• Requires the department to issue an identification card that is substantially similar to the motor vehicle operator's license, except that the card must be a different color and shall state in bold type letters on its face that it is for identification purposes only and must display a distinguishing number assigned to the identification card, the prisoner's full name, date of birth, brief physical description, and photograph (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text