S360: Relates to expanding the health department's review of correctional health services

Summary

Expands the health department's review of correctional health services by including a biennial study of health care staffing at facilities operated by the department of corrections and community supervision.

Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries

Amends the Public Health Law.

From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 31, 2026. About our data

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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo

Section one amends subdivision 26 of section 206 of Public Health Law (PHL) by adding additional categories of health services such as emerg- ing infectious diseases, women's health, transgender health, chronic health conditions, substance use disorder, health care services for individuals fifty years of age or older, and discharge planning to DOH's existing power to review DOCCS and local jail HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and COVID-19 policies. It also creates a new subdivision 26-a in section 206 of PHL to require a biennial study of healthcare staffing adequacy in DOCCS and local jails and requires the first study be completed and submitted to both the Governor and the Legislature within one year of the bill's enact- ment. Section two provides for the effective date.

Filed with the bill. Read it on nysenate.gov (opens in a new tab)

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

Introduced
In committee
Up for a vote
Passed one chamber
Passed
Enacted

Committee

Health · New York State Assembly

Also referred to Health · New York State Senate.

Cosponsors

Al Taylor, Andrew Hevesi and 16 more on Agora

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

Read on NY Senate

Democratic18

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Show the full list (18 names)

The sponsor's argument

Why Gustavo Rivera says this is needed

New York has over 50,000 incarcerated individuals in DOCCS custody and another 25,000 in local correctional facilities. These incarcerated individuals rely on correctional health care providers for their medical care. Many incarcerated individuals are at high risk for illnesses related to poverty, addiction, or mental illness, and women, transgen- der, and aging incarcerated individuals have special needs. Subdivision 26 of section 206 of PHL, enacted in 2009, authorized DOH to review policies and practices in DOCCS and local facilities relating to HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. Implementation includes reviews of HIV and Hepatitis C services in DOCCS facilities done by State contractor IPRO, including on-site reviews, staff interviews, and medical record review. The 2009 law has been successful in addressing HIV/AIDS with a viral suppression rate consistently over 90% in DOCCS, and ten times more individuals currently receive Hepatitis C care in DOCCS than in any other state. Then, in 2021, the 2009 law was expanded to add COVID-19 to DOH's authority. In 2022, the report on the "Administrative Data Findings From New York State's Incarcerated Grievance Program" showed that 16.2% of grievances submitted by the incarcerated population were related to health services, making it one of ttieMain areas of reported complaints. This highlights the urgency of addressing this serious issue as a priority. This bill builds on the successes of addressing HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C by expanding DOH's role in correctional care to additional categories of incarcerated individuals, as well as oversight of discharge planning policies. Advocates have raised particular concerns about healthcare services for several categories of incarcerated individuals and condi- tions. It is a particular challenge to ensure appropriate discharge and planning for incarcerated individuals who cannot be safely released without placement in residential facilities due to their care needs. Additionally, the bill directs DOH to study staffing levels in correc- tional settings. Witnesses at a 2017 hearing reported nursing vacancy rates of 20% and 25% for physicians in DOCCS facilities. The bill requires biennial reporting by DOH in consultation with DOCCS on staff- ing adequacy; potential challenges to adequate staffing; and impacts of staffing levels on the availability of services.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.

Recorded votes

Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 18, 2026Result: passed
(40) (20) (0) (3)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceMay 12, 2026Result: passed
(15) (5) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthFeb 24, 2026Result: passed
(10) (3) (0) (2)
Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateMay 28, 2025Result: passed
(41) (20) (0) (2)
Vote: Committee vote · Finance
Senate FinanceApr 29, 2025Result: passed
(16) (6) (0) (0)
Vote: Committee vote · Health
Senate HealthFeb 4, 2025Result: passed
(11) (4) (0) (0)

Full history

May 18, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 18, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 18, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
May 14, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
May 13, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate

Show full history (14 earlier events)

May 12, 2026
1ST Report CAL.1036
1ST REPORT CAL.1036
NY Senate
Feb 24, 2026
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 7, 2026
Died in Assembly
DIED IN ASSEMBLY
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
May 28, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
May 1, 2025
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
Apr 30, 2025
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Apr 29, 2025
1ST Report CAL.744
1ST REPORT CAL.744
NY Senate
Feb 4, 2025
Reported out of committee
REPORTED AND COMMITTED TO FINANCE
NY Senate
Jan 15, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Assembly
Jan 8, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO HEALTH
NY Senate