New York S 10502: Establishes access to postsecondary educational programming and creating an educational transfer process for incarcerated individuals

Bill Text

Bill Search and Legislative Information | New York State Assembly 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 Skip to main content 

 New York State Assembly

 Speaker Carl E. Heastie

 --> 
 --> 

 --> 

• 
 Assembly Members 

• 
 Legislative Info 

• 
 Public Hearings 

• 
 Speaker's Press 

• 
 Assembly Reports 

• 
 Committees & More 

• Bill Search Home
• Laws
• Legislative Calendar
• Public Hearing Schedule
• Assembly Calendars
• Assembly Committee Agenda 

 Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page. 

 Bill No.: 

• Summary 
• Actions 
• Committee&nbspVotes 
• Floor&nbspVotes 
• Memo 
• Text 
• LFIN 
• Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript 
S10502 Summary:

BILL NOS10502 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORBOTTCHER

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §137-a, Cor L

&nbsp

Expands access to higher education in correctional facilities by requiring the department of corrections and community supervision to provide meaningful access to postsecondary educational programming and to establish a transparent process for incarcerated individuals to request transfers to facilities where such programs are available.

Go to top S10502 Actions:

BILL NOS10502 

&nbsp

05/15/2026REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION

Go to topS10502 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS10502 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS10502 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 10502

 IN SENATE

 May 15, 2026
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. BOTTCHER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and
 Correction

 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing access
 to postsecondary educational programming and creating an educational
 transfer process for incarcerated individuals

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 137-a
 2 to read as follows:
 3 § 137-a. Postsecondary educational access and educational transfer
 4 process. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have
 5 the following meanings:
 6 (a) "Postsecondary educational programming" shall mean any academic,
 7 vocational, or certificate-bearing program offered in partnership with
 8 an accredited institution of higher education or approved training
 9 provider, including but not limited to degree-granting programs.
 10 (b) "Educational transfer request" shall mean a request submitted by
 11 an incarcerated individual seeking transfer to a correctional facility
 12 that offers postsecondary educational programming not available at the
 13 individual's current facility.
 14 2. The department shall ensure meaningful access to postsecondary
 15 educational programming for incarcerated individuals. Such access shall
 16 include, but not be limited to:
 17 (a) the availability of programs at multiple facilities throughout the
 18 state; and
 19 (b) the provision of information to incarcerated individuals regarding
 20 program availability, eligibility requirements, and application proce-
 21 dures.
 22 3. (a) The department shall establish and maintain a formal process by
 23 which incarcerated individuals may submit an educational transfer
 24 request.
 25 (b) Such process shall include standardized application procedures,
 26 timelines for review, and mechanisms for notification of decisions.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD15688-01-6

 S. 10502 2

 1 4. In reviewing an educational transfer request, the department shall
 2 consider:
 3 (a) the individual's eligibility for the requested educational
 4 program;
 5 (b) institutional safety and security considerations;
 6 (c) the individual's proximity to family and support networks, where
 7 practicable;
 8 (d) the individual's reentry planning needs, including educational and
 9 vocational goals; and
 10 (e) any other relevant factors as determined by the department,
 11 provided such factors are applied consistently.
 12 5. (a) The department shall issue a written determination for each
 13 educational transfer request within a reasonable period of time.
 14 (b) Any denial of such request shall include a clear statement of the
 15 reasons for such denial.
 16 (c) Educational transfer requests shall not be denied in an arbitrary
 17 or discriminatory manner.
 18 6. The department shall, on an annual basis, publish and make publicly
 19 available a report containing:
 20 (a) the number of educational transfer requests submitted;
 21 (b) the number of requests approved and denied;
 22 (c) the stated reasons for denials, aggregated and anonymized; and
 23 (d) the availability and capacity of postsecondary educational
 24 programming across correctional facilities.
 25 7. The department is a