S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2266
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 16, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN, SIMON, SEAWRIGHT, KELLES, GONZALEZ-RO-
JAS, FORREST, JACKSON, DAVILA, GIBBS, TAPIA, LEVENBERG, BURDICK,
REYES, SHRESTHA, MAMDANI, CHANDLER-WATERMAN, CUNNINGHAM, RAGA, WALKER,
SEPTIMO, BORES, MEEKS, SHIMSKY, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, ZACCARO, PAULIN --
read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to providing voice
communication services to incarcerated individuals at no cost; and to
repeal section 623 of the correction law related thereto
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 623 of the correction law is REPEALED and a new
section 623 is added to read as follows:
§ 623. COMMUNICATION WITH PEOPLE CONFINED TO CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
1. STATE AGENCIES CHARGED WITH THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STATE
PRISONS AND YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS OR DETENTION CENTERS SHALL
PROVIDE PERSONS IN THEIR CUSTODY AND CONFINED IN A CORRECTIONAL OR
DETENTION FACILITY WITH VOICE COMMUNICATION SERVICE. SUCH STATE AGENCIES
MAY SUPPLEMENT VOICE COMMUNICATION SERVICE WITH OTHER COMMUNICATION
SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, VIDEO COMMUNICATION AND ELEC-
TRONIC MAIL OR MESSAGING SERVICES. TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH VOICE COMMU-
NICATION SERVICE OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SERVICE IS PROVIDED, WHICH
SHALL NOT BE LIMITED BEYOND PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND ROUTINE FACILITY
PROCEDURES, EACH SUCH SERVICE SHALL BE PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO THE
PERSON INITIATING AND THE PERSON RECEIVING THE COMMUNICATION.
2. NO STATE AGENCY SHALL RECEIVE REVENUE FROM THE PROVISION OF VOICE
COMMUNICATION SERVICES OR ANY OTHER COMMUNICATION SERVICES TO ANY PERSON
CONFINED IN A STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENT
OR DETENTION CENTER.
3. STATE AGENCIES CHARGED WITH THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF STATE
PRISONS AND YOUTH RESIDENTIAL PLACEMENTS OR DETENTION CENTERS SHALL
MAINTAIN IN-PERSON VISITS FOR PERSONS IN THEIR CUSTODY AND CONFINED IN
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04335-01-5
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