BILL NUMBER: S5123
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing an incar-
cerated individual time for mental health services
 
PURPOSE:
This bill will ensure that incarcerated individuals who are eligible for
mental health services are free to access such services without forfei-
ture of other activities such as: exercise, meals, visits and educa-
tional programs.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This bill amends the correction law, to make it clear with respect to
both state and local correctional facilities that incarcerated individ-
uals who are eligible for mental health services/programs are free to
access such services without forfeiture of other activities such as:
exercise, meals, visits and educational programs.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Direct reports from inside correctional facilities have shed light on a
disconcerting phenomenon: many individuals who seek out mental health
services are forced to forfeit certain other activities such as exer-
cise, meals, visits and educational programs, which occur at the same
time. No provision or exception is made to the overly rigid scheduling,
so individuals sometimes have to choose between eating and receiving
therapy. This is extraordinarily unwise and counterproductive.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S5584A
2021-2022: S4114
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5123: 140 correction law, 140(4) correction law, 505 correction law, 505(4) correction law