BILL NUMBER: S3446
SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to creating a contraband
and drug information hotline
 
PURPOSE:
To provide a resource for people to report any knowledge about drugs or
weapons in our prison systems that may be of harm to correction offi-
cers, inmates, and visitors.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Sections 1: The corrections law is amended to provide a definition for
contraband.
Section 2: The corrections law is amended to establish a contraband
hotline.
Section 3: Provides an immediate effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Contraband, whether drugs, weapons, drones, cash, or any other item
smuggled into our prisons puts everyone at risk. Oftentimes, contraband
leads to fights among inmates and violent attacks on correction officers
and other staff Most recently, there have been a rising number of inci-
dents involving these types of attacks.
Data collected indicates that 2022 marked the most violent year ever
inside state prisons. This demonstrates the critical need for more to be
done to protect those both inside and outside our correctional facili-
ties.
Additionally, with the continued opioid crisis in New York State and
nationwide, drug contraband, specifically, can inhibit recovery of those
who are incarcerated with addiction problems. Access is readily avail-
able with the constant movement of drugs into and out of the prison
system.
While the New York State Department of Corrections has attempted to
control the amount of contraband entering the State's prisons, we still
regularly hear about contraband being introduced, made, obtained and
possessed. By providing one centralized phone number that allows for
anonymous calls, people can report instances of contraband happening
inside our prisons.
Similarly, in Pennsylvania, after recent staff exposure to unknown
substances, the Governor and the Department of Corrections began imple-
menting several new protocols, including a drug information hotline. In
an effort to keep New York State safe and reverse current trends, this
legislation is modeled after Pennsylvania's new protocols.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.2941 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction/A.3021
referred to Correction
2021-2022: S.2255 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction/A.8529
referred to Correction
2019-2020: S.159 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S3446: 2 correction law, 220.00 penal law