House Bill 1256 focuses on deterring the trafficking of cellphones into the state’s prisons. If a suspect is caught, the action would be classified as a Class C felony. The individual would also be fined up to $10,000 while inmates found possessing cellphones would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and fined up to $5,000.
A person trafficking a deadly weapon into a jail would be charged with a felony rather than a misdemeanor under the proposed legislation. Department of Correction or prison employees convicted of trafficking cigarettes or tobacco products to an inmate would be charged with a Class A misdemeanor.
The bill now returns to the House of Representatives where the author will have a chance to consider changes made in the Senate.
