Bill > S07983

This bill, known as the McDow Watson medical transparency in correctional facilities act, establishes comprehensive reforms to improve medical care and communication for incarcerated individuals in New York State. It requires correctional facilities to notify designated emergency contacts within twelve hours of a serious medical event, with a broad definition of such events including hospitalizations, surgeries, life-threatening illnesses, and other significant medical conditions. The bill mandates that emergency contacts receive detailed information about the medical event and the incarcerated individual's location, with provisions for delaying notification only in documented safety emergencies. Additionally, the legislation guarantees incarcerated individuals and their legal representatives the right to access medical records within fifteen business days of a request, ensuring compliance with medical privacy laws. A key provision creates an independent nine-member medical oversight body composed of medical professionals and patient advocates, who will conduct annual audits of correctional facility medical care, investigate complaints, and publish public reports on their findings. The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms, including fines up to $10,000 per violation for non-compliance and potential mandatory independent reviews for repeated infractions. The legislation was inspired by several documented cases of inadequate medical care and communication in New York correctional facilities, aiming to protect the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals and promote transparency in their medical treatment.

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https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7983