S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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11378--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
October 19, 2018
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Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Fernandez,
Mosley, Barron, McDonough) -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the correction law and the penal law, in relation to
imposing criminal liability for the failure to obtain medical care for
a person in custody displaying medical distress
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "Andrew Kearse act".
§ 2. Paragraph (e) of subdivision 1 of section 47 of the correction
law is amended by adding a new subparagraph (iii) to read as follows:
(III) THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE ANY POLICE OFFICER, PEACE OFFICER,
CORRECTION OFFICER OR OTHER EMPLOYEE OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO
PROVIDE IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION WHEN AN INMATE OR PERSON IN CUSTODY
DISPLAYS MEDICAL DISTRESS. THE BOARD SHALL REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO CONDUCT TRAINING
ON ASSISTING A PERSON DISPLAYING MEDICAL DISTRESS. THE BOARD SHALL
INVESTIGATE ALL ALLEGED FAILURES OF ANY POLICE OFFICER, PEACE OFFICER,
CORRECTION OFFICER OR OTHER EMPLOYEE OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO
PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO AN INMATE OR PERSON IN CUSTODY DISPLAYING
MEDICAL DISTRESS OR A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE. IF THE BOARD
DISCOVERS ANY POLICE OFFICER, PEACE OFFICER, CORRECTION OFFICER, OR
OTHER EMPLOYEE OF A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FAILED TO MAKE REASONABLE
EFFORT TO PROVIDE MEDICAL CARE TO AN INMATE OR PERSON IN CUSTODY
DISPLAYING MEDICAL DISTRESS OR A NEED FOR IMMEDIATE MEDICAL CARE, THE
BOARD SHALL REFER SUCH CASE TO PROSECUTORS AS A VIOLATION OF SECTION
195.01 OF THE PENAL LAW.
§ 3. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 195.01 to read
as follows:
§ 195.01 CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE.
A PERSON IS GUILTY OF CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN MEDICAL
CARE WHEN SUCH PERSON, ACTING AS A POLICE OFFICER, PEACE OFFICER OR
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16582-03-8
A. 11378--A 2
CORRECTION OFFICER: (A) WITH CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE, FAILS TO MAKE A GOOD
FAITH EFFORT TO OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE FOR ANY PERSON IN CUSTODY, INCLUDING
AN INMATE, DISPLAYING MEDICAL DISTRESS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
BREATHING DIFFICULTIES, MIGRAINES AND MUSCLE PAINS, OR A NEED FOR IMME-
DIATE MEDICAL CARE IN THE PRESENCE OF SUCH OFFICER; AND (B) SUCH PERSON
IN CUSTODY SUFFERS FROM AN INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM SUCH FAILURE
TO OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE.
CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT FAILURE TO OBTAIN MEDICAL CARE IS A CLASS A
MISDEMEANOR.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.