Bill > S00764

This bill amends the correction law to strengthen the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's annual heat mitigation plan for correctional facilities. The bill requires the commissioner to establish a comprehensive plan to protect incarcerated individuals and staff during high heat temperatures, including provisions such as providing industrial fans, water, ice, additional showers, fully stocked commissaries with personal fans, temperature monitoring in various facility areas, and maintaining a list of individuals with medical conditions that make them more susceptible to heat. The bill also mandates increased wellness checks and provides for shade in exercise yards when consistent with safety protocols. Most significantly, the bill requires the commissioner to evaluate the financial and operational feasibility of establishing permanent cooling stations and sustainable cooling solutions in each facility, with a requirement to develop an implementation timeline if such solutions are found to be feasible. This legislation aims to address the potential health risks associated with extreme heat in correctional settings and ensure the safety and well-being of both incarcerated individuals and correctional staff during high-temperature periods.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S764