S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                 7407--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               May 8, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
  as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  authorizing  a  study  by  the  New  York  state  department of
  corrections and community supervision to study the treatment of  aging
  prison populations and make recommendations for ensuring humane treat-
  ment of such populations

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The department of  corrections  and  community  supervision
shall  undertake  a study of the treatment, conditions and prevalence of
aging prison populations and what plans, if any, such department has  to
provide  for this increasing segment of the inmate population. The study
shall include but not be limited to the following:
  (a) a profile of the current elderly inmate population and  statistics
relating  to its demographics including length and type of sentence, age
at parole eligibility, race, gender, region  of  commitment,  commitment
crime and any other data that may describe such population;
  (b)  projected  inmate  populations  for  elderly inmates for the next
five, ten and twenty years;
  (c) factors contributing to the growth in the number and proportion of
elderly inmates;
  (d) whether, and to what extent, older prison  populations  are  being
provided  with  adequate  or  specialized  housing,  medical  care,  and
specialized programs that respond to their unique needs and vulnerabili-
ties, such as the need for wheelchair  accessibility  or  accommodations
relating  to diminished mental or physical capacity, including a profile
of such housing, medical care and programs currently provided to elderly
inmates and a projection of such provisions that will  be  needed  five,
ten and twenty years hence;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10541-02-5

              

A. 7407--A                          2

  (e) provision of specialized training for corrections officers working
with older inmates including what training is currently provided; and
  (f)  a  profile  of  classification  and  facilities  assigned to such
inmates including what institutional oversight, if any, exists to ensure
the welfare of older inmates within each correctional facility.
  S 2. The department of corrections  and  community  supervision  shall
make  a  report  to  the governor and the legislature of the information
required under section one of this act, its  findings  and  conclusions,
and any legislative recommendations it deems necessary no later than one
year after the effective date of this act.
  S 3. To the maximum extent feasible, the department of corrections and
community supervision shall be entitled to request and receive and shall
utilize  and be provided with such facilities, resources and data of any
court, department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of  the
state  or any political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request
to carry out properly its responsibilities pursuant to this act.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.