New York A 3781: Relates to correctional facility visits by the correctional association

Bill Text

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A03781 Summary:

BILL NOA03781A

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SAME ASSAME AS S00651-A

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SPONSORWeprin

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COSPNSRHunter, Burdick, Gonzalez-Rojas, Meeks, Kelles, Shrestha, Forrest, Alvarez

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MLTSPNSR

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Amd §146, Cor L

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Relates to correctional facility visits by the correctional association; authorizes the correctional association to visit correctional facilities at any time and without advance notice; grants the correctional association access to certain records and information of correctional facilities.

Go to top A03781 Actions:

BILL NOA03781A

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01/30/2025referred to correction

05/30/2025amend and recommit to correction

05/30/2025print number 3781a

01/07/2026referred to correction

Go to topA03781 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA03781 Floor&nbspVotes:

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

Go to topA03781 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 3781--A

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 January 30, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN, HUNTER, BURDICK, GONZALEZ-ROJAS, MEEKS,
 KELLES, SHRESTHA, FORREST, ALVAREZ -- read once and referred to the
 Committee on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
 reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to correctional facility
 visits by the correctional association

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

 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. Founded in 1844 by concerned citizens
 2 of the state and deputized by the state to provide independent monitor-
 3 ing and oversight of the state's prisons in 1846, the Correctional Asso-
 4 ciation of New York is one of the first organizations in the country
 5 created to administer civilian oversight of prisons to ensure greater
 6 transparency of correctional institutions in the state. The Correctional
 7 Association of New York's on-site access to the state's prisons and to
 8 information on state prisons is critical for the organization to provide
 9 insight into the policies and procedures of the state's prisons through
 10 its monitoring and reporting on prison conditions, policies, and proce-
 11 dures for the executive, legislature, and public, playing an important
 12 role in informing debates on correctional reform and incarcerated indi-
 13 viduals' rights.
 14 § 2. Subdivision 3 of section 146 of the correction law, as amended by
 15 chapter 32 of the laws of 2021, paragraph b as amended by chapter 486 of
 16 the laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
 17 3. a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
 18 correctional association shall be permitted to access, visit, inspect,
 19 and examine all state correctional facilities [with seventy-two hours
 20 advance] with no notice to the department. Up to twelve people may
 21 comprise the visiting party; provided, however, that only four people
 22 from the party may enter a special housing facility or unit at the same
 23 time. Prior to the visitation authorized pursuant to this subdivision,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00543-05-5

 A. 3781--A 2

 1 the correctional association shall provide to the department on, at
 2 least, an annual basis a list of people who will be visiting the facili-
 3 ty or facilities, including names, dates of birth, driver's license
 4 numbers and their designation as an employee, board member, or designee
 5 in order for the department to perform prompt background checks. The
 6 department may not place restrictions on such visits and inspections,
 7 including during periods when a facility is locked down or experiencing
 8 a facility wide emergency[. In addition, the department may]; provided,
 9 however, that the department may restrict access to a portion of a
 10 facility in an emergency situation for the duration of the emergency.
 11 For the purpose of this subdivision, an emergency shall be determined by
 12 the commissioner or [his or her] the commissioner's designee and defined
 13 as a significant risk to the safety or security of the facility, or the
 14 health, safety or security of staff or incarcerated individu