Bill > S07312

This bill requires institutions and local correctional facilities to establish comprehensive surveillance standards to improve transparency and accountability. Specifically, the bill mandates that all covered facilities install fixed surveillance cameras that provide continuous 24-hour audio and visual coverage of all areas except cells, showers, and private medical treatment spaces, with cameras capturing entry and exit points for areas without direct interior monitoring. Staff members must wear body cameras throughout their entire shifts when incarcerated individuals are present, and all footage must be uploaded and stored at the end of each shift. The bill requires a minimum six-month retention of surveillance recordings, with a five-year preservation requirement for any footage related to potential misconduct or legal proceedings. Legal representatives, prosecutors, and defense counsel can request access to these recordings, which must be provided within ten business days, with efforts made to redact other individuals' identities. The bill includes enforcement mechanisms, such as $10,000 fines for inadequate camera coverage and $5,000 daily fines for delayed footage responses. Additionally, the state inspector general will conduct annual audits of facilities' compliance, with findings to be submitted to the legislature and made publicly available. The law will take effect one year after its passage, allowing facilities time to implement the required systems and procedures.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7312