What's happening
This bill requires New York correctional facilities to implement programs to prevent the spread of STDs and HIV among staff and inmates.
Why it matters
Mandates comprehensive prevention efforts. The bill requires not just education but also group/individual counseling, outreach, harm reduction, discharge planning, testing, and access to prophylactic devices (like condoms) in correctional facilities, addressing both staff and incarcerated individuals.
Reduces stigma and increases participation. By integrating these programs into existing, non-specific activities and encouraging participation by all, the bill aims to make attendance routine rather than stigmatizing, which could improve effectiveness and reach.
Promotes peer-led and culturally sensitive approaches. The legislation emphasizes peer educator training and involvement, as well as tailoring materials to the language, literacy, and cultural needs of incarcerated populations—potentially increasing trust and program impact.
Focuses on continuity and public health beyond prison walls. By including discharge planning and considering the risk to contacts of formerly incarcerated individuals, the bill acknowledges the broader public health implications of infection control within correctional settings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Stop STDs in Prisons
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
12 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to correction
- Referred to correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Prevent STDs in Prisons
In Senate Committee · Crime Victims, Crime And Correction · Sponsor Velmanette Montgomery
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6004
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 21, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, AUBRY, PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, JAFFEE, COLTON, ROSENTHAL, HEVESI, BRONSON, WALKER, ABINANTI, SEPULVEDA, D'URSO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, CAHILL, CARROLL, COOK, CYMBROWITZ, DINOWITZ, GALEF, GANTT, GLICK, HOOPER, LIFTON, McDO- NALD, ORTIZ, PERRY, RIVERA, ROZIC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of corrections and community supervision to develop programs in correctional facilities to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 141-a to read as follows:
§ 141-a. Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV; prevention. 1. The commissioner, together with the commissioner of health, shall develop and implement programs in every correctional facility to prevent the spread of hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection, for department employees and incarcerated individuals, including education, group and individual counseling, outreach to the incarcerated population, harm reduction, discharge planning, offering testing, and availability of prophylactic devices. The program may provide for training incarcerated persons to work as peer educators in the program.
2. These programs shall be offered in such manner and at such time as to encourage attendance by all department employees and incarcerated persons. Programming as required by subdivision one of this section shall include incorporation into other content-neutral programs to ensure that attendance is not stigmatized or stigmatizing.
3. In developing programs for the prevention of hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases and human immunodeficiency virus infection, the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02691-02-7
A. 6004 2
commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of health to identify and select curricula that are likely to be effective in reducing transmission of infectious diseases within correctional facilities and to contacts of formerly incarcerated persons upon their release.
4. The programs required by subdivision one of this section should include peer education and use of non-department personnel including community providers, and shall be in the language of the targeted population, shall take into account the literacy level of the targeted population, and shall be culturally sensitive to the social and cultural needs of the targeted population.
5. In order to develop a cohort of skilled trainers, the commissioner, together with the commissioner of health, shall develop and implement a peer educator training program. Completion of a peer educator training program under this section shall permit a participant to receive a peer education certification.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.