Bill > A00738

This bill addresses women's health in correctional facilities through several key provisions. It establishes a women's health education program that will train medical staff in state and local correctional facilities about women's special medical needs, with a particular focus on providing respectful care to survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The bill requires correctional facilities to offer HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing to all incarcerated individuals and expands the definition of medical services to explicitly include gynecological services for female inmates. For pregnant individuals in correctional facilities, the bill mandates comprehensive prenatal care comparable to community standards, including regular check-ups, health education, prenatal vitamins, and a specialized diet tailored to pregnancy nutritional needs. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, to conduct a comprehensive study on women's health care in prisons, collecting data on medical access, frequency of medical visits, common health issues, and treatment outcomes. The study results will be compiled into a report for the governor and legislature within one year of the act's effective date, with the aim of improving healthcare for incarcerated women.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A738