Bill > S01692

This bill amends the New York Correction Law to regulate commissaries and canteens in correctional institutions by establishing new pricing and transparency requirements. Specifically, the bill mandates that items sold in prison commissaries and canteens can only be priced at a maximum of three percent over their purchase price, requires the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to maximize bulk purchasing discounts, and prohibits the department from receiving commissions or financial incentives from commissary vendors. Additionally, the bill requires the department to publish a comprehensive price list for all commissary items on its website annually, starting on June 1, 2025. The existing law already allowed correctional institutions to establish commissaries for incarcerated individuals, but this amendment introduces stricter controls on pricing and increases transparency about the cost of goods available to prisoners. The goal appears to be preventing excessive markups and ensuring that incarcerated individuals are not being overcharged for essential items.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S1692