NY State Senate Bill 2025-S8250

Senate Bill S8250

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to assess and update the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use in correctional facilities

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime And Correction Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 27, 2025	referred to crime victims, crime and correction

2025-S8250 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A8545
Current Committee:: Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Law Section:: Correction Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §112, Cor L

2025-S8250 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to assess and update the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use in correctional facilities.

2025-S8250 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8250

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to requiring the commis-
sioner of corrections and community supervision to assess and update the
security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems in use in
correctional facilities

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation aims to ensure that the $400 million appropriation in
the SEY 25-26 for the installation of surveillance camera across New
York State correctional facilities is fully implemented within two
years. It guarantees that these funds are directed strategically toward
enhancing safety, communication, and accountability infrastructure in
correctional institutions.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 112 of the correction law by adding a new

subdivision 7, to ensure full implementation of critical surveillance
infrastructure within two years. It requires the Commissioner of
Corrections to evaluate and report on the security camera, land-mobile
radio, and public address systems in correctional facilities within 90
days. The Commissioner must submit a two-year strategic plan addressing
deficiencies, upgrading systems to digital formats, ensuring secure
storage and accessibility of video evidence, and prioritizing facility
needs to the governor and the legislature.  To guarantee accountability,
annual public progress reports are mandated until the two-year implemen-
tation deadline is met, subject to appropriations.

Section 2: Sets forth the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This legislation establishes a firm two-year timeline to ensure the
timely and accountable implementation of critical safety and surveil-
lance upgrades across New York State correctional facilities.  Across
correctional facilities in New York State, numerous incidents have
revealed how the absence or failure of functioning surveillance systems.
has left both staff and incarcerated individuals vulnerable, while also
undermining investigations into misconduct and abuse.

By requiring the Commissioner of Corrections to assess current systems,
develop a strategic implementation plan for upgrades, and publish annual
progress reports until full installation is complete, this legislation
ensures that correctional facilities are equipped with reliable tools to
protect all individuals and establishes clear oversight throughout the
implementation process. Furthermore, upgraded digital systems with
secure storage and reliable access to video evidence will significantly
enhance institutional safety and help preserve due process.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

None.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2025-S8250 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8250
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 27, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  CLEARE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims,  Crime  and
   Correction
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to requiring the commis-
   sioner  of  corrections and community supervision to assess and update
   the security camera, land-mobile radio, and public address systems  in
   use in correctional facilities
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 112 of the correction law is amended  by  adding  a
 new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
   7.  (A)  NOT  LATER  THAN NINETY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL:
   (I) EVALUATE  THE  SECURITY  CAMERA,  LAND-MOBILE  RADIO,  AND  PUBLIC
 ADDRESS  SYSTEMS  IN  USE IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AS OF THE EFFECTIVE
 DATE OF THIS SUBDIVISION; AND
   (II) SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE A  PLAN  FOR  ENSURING
 THAT  ALL  CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES HAVE THE SECURITY CAMERA, LAND-MOBILE
 RADIO, AND PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM COVERAGE AND CAPABILITIES NECESSARY TO:
   (1) ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF STAFF  AND  INCARCERATED  INDIVID-
 UALS; AND
   (2)  ENSURE THE DOCUMENTATION AND ACCESSIBILITY OF VIDEO EVIDENCE THAT
 MAY PERTAIN TO MISCONDUCT BY STAFF OR INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS,  NEGLI-
 GENT  OR  ABUSIVE  TREATMENT  OF  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS, OR CRIMINAL
 ACTIVITY WITHIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
   (B) THE PLAN REQUIRED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH (A)  OF  THIS  SUBDIVISION
 SHALL:
   (I)  IDENTIFY  AND  INCLUDE  PLANS  TO ADDRESS ANY DEFICIENCIES IN THE
 SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM IN  USE  AT  CORRECTIONAL  FACILITIES,  INCLUDING
 THOSE RELATED TO:
   (1) AN INSUFFICIENT NUMBER OF CAMERAS;

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11809-01-5

 S. 8250                             2
 
   (2) INOPERABLE OR MALFUNCTIONING CAMERAS;
   (3) BLIND SPOTS;
   (4) POOR QUALITY VIDEO; AND
   (5) ANY OTHER DEFICITS IN THE SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEM;
   (II)  IDENTIFY  AND  INCLUDE  PLANS TO ADOPT AND MAINTAIN ANY SECURITY
 CAMERA SYSTEM UPGRADES NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN PARA-
 GRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION, INCLUDING:
   (1) CONVERSION OF ALL ANALOG CAMERAS TO DIGITAL SURVEILLANCE  SYSTEMS,
 WITH CORRESPONDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT UPGRADE REQUIREMENTS;
   (2)  UPGRADES TO ENSURE THE SECURE STORAGE, LOGGING, PRESERVATION, AND
 ACCESSIBILITY OF RECORDINGS SUCH THAT THE RECORDINGS  ARE  AVAILABLE  TO
 INVESTIGATORS OR COURTS AT SUCH TIME AS MAY BE REASONABLY REQUIRED; AND
   (3) ADDITIONAL CAMERA SYSTEM CAPABILITIES NEEDED TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY
 AND SECURITY OF INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AND STAFF;
   (III)  INCLUDE  AN  ASSESSMENT OF OPERATIONAL AND LOGISTICAL CONSIDER-
 ATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN REQUIRED PURSUANT TO  PARAGRAPH  (A)  OF
 THIS SUBDIVISION, INCLUDING:
   (1) A PRIORITIZATION OF FACILITIES FOR NEEDED UPGRADES, BEGINNING WITH
 HIGH SECURITY INSTITUTIONS;
   (2) THE PERSONNEL AND TRAINING NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES; AND
   (3) ONGOING REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS; AND
   (IV)  INCLUDE A TWO-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN AND COST PROJECTION FOR IMPLE-
 MENTING THE CHANGES AND UPGRADES TO  THE  SECURITY  CAMERA,  LAND-MOBILE
 RADIO,  AND  PUBLIC  ADDRESS  SYSTEMS IDENTIFIED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPHS (I)
 THROUGH (III) OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
   (C) NOT LATER THAN TWO YEARS AFTER THE  DATE  ON  WHICH  THE  PLAN  IS
 SUBMITTED  PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDI-
 VISION, AND SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATIONS THEREFOR, THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL
 COMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SUBMITTED PLAN.
   (D)  BEGINNING  ONE YEAR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH THE PLAN IS SUBMITTED
 PURSUANT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS SUBDIVISION,  AND
 EACH   YEAR  THEREAFTER  UNTIL  FULL  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  SUCH  PLAN  IS
 COMPLETED, THE COMMISSIONER SHALL ISSUE  A  PUBLIC  REPORT  TO  BE  MADE
 AVAILABLE  ON  THE  WEBSITE  OF  THE  DEPARTMENT ON THE PROGRESS OF SUCH
 IMPLEMENTATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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