S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5819
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 25, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Correction
 
 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;
   (e) provision of specialized training for corrections officers working
 with older inmates including what training is currently provided; and
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD03520-01-1

 A. 5819                             2
 
   (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.
   §  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.
   § 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.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.