Bill > A07576

This bill establishes comprehensive reforms to medical care and communication in New York State correctional facilities, named the "McDow Watson medical transparency in correctional facilities act". The legislation requires correctional facilities to notify designated emergency contacts within twelve hours of a serious medical event involving an incarcerated individual, with a detailed definition of what constitutes a serious medical event, including hospitalizations, surgeries, life-threatening conditions, and potential permanent impairments. The bill mandates that facilities maintain up-to-date emergency contact information and provide multiple notification methods, with provisions for delaying notification only in specific security circumstances. Additionally, the bill ensures that incarcerated individuals and their representatives have the right to access medical records within fifteen business days of a request, with expedited access for urgent medical needs. A new independent nine-member medical oversight body will be established to monitor medical care quality, conduct unannounced facility audits, investigate complaints, and issue public reports. The legislation also includes enforcement mechanisms, with potential fines up to $10,000 per violation for facilities that fail to comply with the new requirements, and provisions for data collection and annual public reporting on medical incidents and facility compliance, ultimately aiming to improve medical transparency and care for incarcerated individuals.

Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7576