Vote: Floor vote
NY SenateJun 2, 2026Result: passed
(61) (0) (0) (2)
Senate bill · S8061 (2025-26)
Provides for mental health counseling for correction officers and civilian staff in correctional facilities
Latest action Jun 2, 2026
New York State Senate
Same as A8027, the matching bill in the Assembly.
Summary
Directs the commissioner of corrections and community supervision, in consultation with the commissioner of mental health, to make mental health counseling available to all correction officers and civilian staff in correctional facilities.
Summary from NY Open Legislation. How we handle summaries
Amends the Correction Law.
From NY Open Legislation, the NY Senate and Assembly, and official rosters. This record was last updated Oct 20, 2026. About our data
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Purpose, from the sponsor's memo
Provides for mental health counseling for correction officers and civil- ian staff in correctional facilities.
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
Correction · New York State Assembly
Also referred to Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · New York State Senate.
Cosponsors
Dean Murray, Joseph A. Griffo and 2 more on Agora
Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.
Read on NY Senate (opens in a new tab)- Republican3
- Democratic1
This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.
Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.
The sponsor's argument
Why James Skoufis says this is needed
Employees in New York State correctional facilities face immense daily challenges that take a serious toll on their mental health. They regu- larly put themselves at physical, emotional, and psychological risk-of- ten working far beyond their scheduled hours. To truly support correc- tional officers and civilian staff, the state must prioritize mental health on par with physical health. Investing in accessible mental health counseling not only benefits these employees, but also strength- ens the entire corrections system, positively affecting the prison popu- lation and institutional outcomes. If we expect the best from those performing this demanding yet essential work, the state must rise to the occasion and provide the resources they need to thrive.
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: Committee vote · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Senate Crime Victims, Crime And CorrectionMar 24, 2026Result: passed
(7) (0) (0) (0)
Full history
- Jun 2, 2026
Sent to the executive
DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
NY Senate
- Jun 2, 2026
Passed a chamber
PASSED SENATE
NY Senate
- Jun 2, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
- Mar 26, 2026
Advanced to Third Reading
ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
NY Senate
- Mar 25, 2026
2ND Report CAL.
2ND REPORT CAL.
NY Senate
Show full history (5 earlier events)Show less history
- Mar 24, 2026
1ST Report CAL.625
1ST REPORT CAL.625
NY Senate
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly
- Jan 7, 2026
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
- May 15, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION
NY Senate
- Apr 22, 2025
Referred to committee
REFERRED TO CORRECTION
NY Assembly