Bill > A02592

This bill amends the New York State Correction Law to regulate commissaries and canteens in correctional institutions by establishing stricter pricing and transparency requirements. Specifically, the bill mandates that items sold at prison commissaries or canteens can only be priced at a maximum of three percent above their purchase price, requiring the Department of Corrections to maximize bulk purchasing discounts and prohibiting the department from receiving any commissions or financial incentives from vendors. Additionally, the bill requires the department to publish comprehensive price lists for all commissary items on its website annually, with the first such listing to be posted by June 1, 2025. The goal appears to be reducing the financial burden on incarcerated individuals by ensuring more affordable pricing for essential goods and creating greater transparency in the commissary system. Existing provisions allowing institutions to establish commissaries for the benefit of incarcerated individuals remain in place, with the newly added pricing and disclosure requirements designed to protect consumers within the correctional system.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A2592