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Bill > A04603
NY A04603
NY A04603Establishes visiting policies for incarcerated people, to provide incarcerated people opportunities for personal contact with relatives, friends, clergy, volunteers and other persons to promote better institutional adjustment and better community adjustment upon release.
summary
Introduced
02/04/2025
02/04/2025
In Committee
05/20/2025
05/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 General Assembly
Bill Summary
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to the establishment of visiting policies for incarcerated individuals
AI Summary
This bill establishes comprehensive visiting policies for state and local correctional facilities to ensure incarcerated individuals can maintain meaningful personal connections with their support networks. The legislation requires facilities to create visiting programs that accommodate travelers by offering evening and weekend visiting hours, with each visit lasting at least one hour at local facilities. The bill also mandates an equitable overcrowding policy that considers factors like visitor travel distance, visit frequency, and past visit interruptions. Importantly, while video conferencing is permitted, it cannot replace in-person visits and does not count towards mandatory visitation requirements. The bill emphasizes that visits must be voluntary, ensuring no individual can be compelled to receive visitors against their will. The underlying goal is to promote individual transformation, improve institutional behavior, and support successful community reintegration upon release by preserving important social relationships during incarceration. The new policy will take effect 120 days after becoming law.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance, Justice
Sponsors (65)
David Weprin (D)*,
George Alvarez (D),
Khaleel Anderson (D),
Didi Barrett (D),
Michael Benedetto (D),
Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (D),
Alex Bores (D),
Harry Bronson (D),
Chris Burdick (D),
Pat Burke (D),
Noah Burroughs (D),
Robert Carroll (D),
Monique Chandler-Waterman (D),
Sarah Clark (D),
Vivian Cook (D),
Catalina Cruz (D),
Brian Cunningham (D),
Landon Dais (D),
Maritza Davila (D),
Erik Dilan (D),
Jeffrey Dinowitz (D),
Harvey Epstein (D),
Emily Gallagher (D),
Eddie Gibbs (D),
Jessica González-Rojas (D),
Andrew Hevesi (D),
Larinda Hooks (D),
Pamela Hunter (D),
Alicia Hyndman (D),
Chantel Jackson (D),
Anna Kelles (D),
Micah Lasher (D),
Charles Lavine (D),
Dana Levenberg (D),
Nikki Lucas (D),
Jen Lunsford (D),
Zohran Mamdani (D),
Demond Meeks (D),
Marcela Mitaynes (D),
Kwani O'Pharrow (D),
Amy Paulin (D),
Steven Raga (D),
Phil Ramos (D),
Karines Reyes (D),
Gabriella Romero (D),
Linda Rosenthal (D),
Rebecca Seawright (D),
Amanda Septimo (D),
Maryjane Shimsky (D),
Sarahana Shrestha (D),
Jo Anne Simon (D),
Tony Simone (D),
Michaelle Solages (D),
Phara Souffrant Forrest (D),
Phil Steck (D),
Yudelka Tapia (D),
Al Taylor (D),
Claire Valdez (D),
Clyde Vanel (D),
Latrice Walker (D),
Aron Wieder (D),
Carrie Woerner (D),
Jordan Wright (D),
John Zaccaro (D),
Stefani Zinerman (D),
Last Action
reported referred to rules (on 05/20/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A4603 |
| BillText | https://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A04603&term=2025&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y&Committee%26nbspVotes=Y&Floor%26nbspVotes=Y#A04603 |
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