SENATE LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

SENATE, No. 734

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2018

 

      The Senate Law and Public Safety Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 734.

      As reported by the committee, this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Corrections to establish a program within the Department of Corrections to install and operate a managed cellular access system within State correctional facilities.  A managed cellular access system is a communications system consisting of technology and equipment which deploys a secure cellular communications network within the bounds of a State correctional facility to permit the authorized transmission of voice, text messages, images, and other data to and from cellular telephones and other wireless communications devices.

     If established, the bill requires the commissioner to implement a managed cellular access system that does not interfere with 9-1-1 and other emergency communications and operates at the lowest possible transmission power level necessary to permit the authorized transmission of signals to and from cellular telephones and other wireless communications devices.

     The bill also prohibits the system from interfering with the transmission and reception of signals from cellular telephones and other wireless communications devices originating from and terminating outside of State correctional facilities.

     If established, the commissioner is to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the effectiveness of the program.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.