BILL NUMBER: S5317
SPONSOR: BAILEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law and the mental hygiene law, in
relation to data collected for medication assisted treatment programs at
correctional facilities
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
To require the collection of certain demographic data.
 
SUMMARY: OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
The bill amends certain provisions of the correction law to, among other
things, require the collection demographic information of incarcerated
individuals - including race, ethnicity, gender, and age - in each
correctional facility. The bill also requires the collection of informa-
tion regarding medication assisted treatment programs operated by the
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and local counties.
This information includes the demographic data described above, as well
as the number of individuals that are offered necessary medication, the
number of individuals who accept or decline medication and the reason
therefor, and the rates of overdose by incarcerated individuals who are
prescribed medications for opioid use disorder, among other points of
data.
 
JUSTIFICATION::
Chapter 432 of the laws of 2021 required all New York State prisons and
local jails to provide those who are incarcerated and struggling with a
substance use disorder access to medication assisted treatment
(MAT). MAT is an evidence-based treatment approach that utilizes medica-
tions that block cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms with counseling
and behavioral therapy. Since taking effect in October 2022, there has
been inconsistent reporting by state prisons and local jails, raising
questions about how participation in the program varies by facility and
the processes that may be used to determine a person's eligibility and
monitor their progress.
This legislation amends the existing law's reporting requirements to
streamline the process and requires that annual reports include demo-
graphic information such as the race, ethnicity, gender and age of
program participants. Under this legislation, the reports must also
Include much more information on the details of the MAT program. With
comprehensive reporting, we can evaluate this program and make changes
as needed. New York State remains the largest state in the nation to
offer MAT at every correctional facility and it is important that indi-
viduals in need of treatment have the same access to care at every
correctional facility.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5317: 626 correction law, 626(3) correction law, 19.07 mental hygiene law