Bill > S05804

This bill relates to medical parole for incarcerated individuals with terminal or severe medical conditions, making several key modifications to existing law. The bill changes language to use more inclusive terminology and adjusts the criteria for medical parole eligibility. Specifically, it modifies how medical parole boards determine whether an incarcerated individual can be released, shifting from evaluating if they are "physically or cognitively incapable of presenting any danger to society" to assessing if they are "severely restricted in their ability to self-ambulate or to perform significant normal activities of daily living." The bill maintains existing restrictions for individuals convicted of serious crimes like first-degree murder, and requires that for certain offenses, individuals must have served at least half of their minimum or determinate sentence. Medical parole would be granted for six-month periods, with the possibility of renewal, and requires periodic medical examinations. The board must provide a release determination within thirty days of receiving certification from the commissioner, and the released individual must agree to remain under medical care in an appropriate healthcare setting. The bill aims to provide a compassionate pathway for releasing severely ill or incapacitated individuals from imprisonment while maintaining public safety considerations.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5804