New York A 3953: Relates to surveillance dead zones in correctional facilities

Bill Text

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A03953 Summary:

BILL NOA03953 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

&nbsp

SPONSORVanel

&nbsp

COSPNSRTapia

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §12, Cor L

&nbsp

Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to identify and eliminate all surveillance dead zones in correctional facilities under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections.

Go to top A03953 Actions:

BILL NOA03953 

&nbsp

01/30/2025referred to correction

01/07/2026referred to correction

Go to topA03953 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA03953 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA03953 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 3953

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 January 30, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. VANEL -- read once and referred to the Committee
 on Correction

 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to surveillance dead
 zones in correctional facilities

 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 12 to
 2 read as follows:
 3 § 12. Surveillance dead zones. 1. No later than ninety days after the
 4 effective date of this section, the commissioner shall:
 5 (a) Evaluate the security camera systems of each correctional facility
 6 under the jurisdiction of the department;
 7 (b) Conduct a comprehensive survey of each correctional facility under
 8 the jurisdiction of the department to identify all blind spots in each
 9 correctional facility. For purposes of this section, a "blind spot"
 10 shall mean an area, irrespective of size, that does not receive twenty-
 11 four-hour surveillance by a security camera, including security cameras
 12 whose field of surveillance can be manually or automatically reposi-
 13 tioned to create an unsurveilled area, a camera which has such poor
 14 quality video that surveillance footage would not be adequate to identi-
 15 fy an act of violence or sexual assault taking place, a camera that is
 16 obstructed or blinded by an object or light source, or a camera that
 17 cannot adequately identify an act of violence or sexual assault taking
 18 place in darkness; and
 19 (c) Submit a plan to the governor, attorney general, and the legisla-
 20 ture related to curing such blind spots in each correctional facility.
 21 2. The plan required under subdivision one of this section shall:
 22 (a) Identify and include plans to address any deficiencies in the
 23 security camera system in use at each correctional facility, including
 24 those related to:
 25 (i) an insufficient number of cameras;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05764-01-5

 A. 3953 2

 1 (ii) inoperable or malfunctioning cameras;
 2 (iii) blind spots;
 3 (iv) poor quality video; and
 4 (v) any other deficits in the security camera system.
 5 (b) Identify and include plans to adopt and maintain any security
 6 camera system upgrades needed to achieve the purposes described in
 7 subdivision one of this section, including:
 8 (i) conversion of all analog cameras to digital surveillance systems,
 9 with corresponding infrastructure and equipment upgrade requirements;
 10 (ii) upgrades to ensure the secure storage, logging, preservation, and
 11 accessibility of recordings such that the recordings are available to
 12 investigators or courts at such time as may be reasonably required; and
 13 (iii) additional enterprise-wide camera system capabilities needed to
 14 enhance the safety and security of incarcerated persons and staff.
 15 (c) Include an assessment of operational and logistical considerations
 16 in implementing the plan required under subdivision one of this section,
 17 including:
 18 (i) a prioritization of facilities for needed upgrades, beginning with
 19 high security institutions;
 20 (ii) the personnel and training necessary to implement the changes;
 21 (iii) ongoing repair and maintenance requirements; and
 22 (iv) a three-year strategic plan and cost projection for implementing
 23 the changes and upgrades to the security camera systems.
 24 3. Not later than three years after the date on which a plan is
 25 submitted pursua