Title
a. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign a renewal and Amendment #3 with Telmate Inc., to incorporate California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changes and extend the agreement by two (2) years retroactive to January 1, 2022, with a new term end date of December 31, 2023, which will allow time to go out to RFP; and
b. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendments as necessary based on CPUC and/or FCC changes.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign a renewal and Amendment #3 with Telmate Inc., to incorporate California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changes and extend the agreement by two (2) years retroactive to January 1, 2022, with a new term end date of December 31, 2023, which will allow time to go out to RFP; and
b. Approve and Authorize the Contracts/Purchasing Officer or Contracts/Purchasing Supervisor to sign Amendments as necessary based on CPUC and/or FCC changes.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and Probation Department request approval of this amendment.
The original contract for a “no cost to the County”, turnkey, leave-behind solution for Probation and MCSO was approved by the board on December 6, 2016. This contract provides access for incarcerated inmates/juveniles within the Monterey County Jail/Monterey County Juvenile Hall, to telephones and tablets, for communication with family and friends.
On July 20, 2020, prompted in part by the COVID-19 pandemic, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai sent a letter to the President of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) “imploring NARUC and state regulatory commissions to take action on intrastate inmate calling services rates to enable more affordable communications for the incarcerated and their families.” NARUC-of which this Commission is a member-responded three days later, asking state utility commissions to review the rates and terms under which telecommunications services are provided to incarcerated people “and act, where appropriate.”
This amendment incorporates changes enacted by the CPUC and FCC. The CPUC and FCC reduced the cost that an inmate could be charged for a telephone call and associated fees.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office, County Counsel and Auditor-Controller have reviewed. The Probation Department supports this amendment.
FINANCING:
MCSO places all funds generated by this contract into the Inmate Welfare Fund (IWF), where they are used for inmate welfare programs. Probation places all funds generated by this contract into the Juvenile Ward Trust Fund to be used solely for the benefit of the youth in custody at the Juvenile Hall and Youth Center, as per Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code 873, Section (d)These revenues are not used for general operational expenses. There is no cost to the County General fund associated with this recommendation.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
__Economic Development
√_Administration
__Health & Human Services
√_Infrastructure
√_Public Safety
Prepared by: Arthur Curtright, Management Analyst II, ext. 3708
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff/Coroner, ext. 3750
Approved by: Todd Keating, Chief Probation Officer, ext. 3913
Attachments:
Board Report
Attachment A - Telmate Agreement
Attachment B - Amendment 1
Attachment C - Amendment 2
Attachment D - Amendment 3