What's happening
This bill allows certain state officials, legislators, judges, district attorneys, and clergy to visit sex offender civil confinement facilities at any time.
Why it matters
Increased Transparency and Oversight. By granting state officials, legislators, judges, district attorneys, and certain clergy open access to sex offender civil confinement facilities, the bill aims to ensure these sites are subject to more frequent and diverse external oversight, potentially improving conditions and accountability.
Potential for Policy and Reform Insights. Lawmakers and their staff, through direct observation, can gain firsthand understanding of the operations and challenges within these secure treatment centers, possibly informing future legislation or reforms related to civil confinement practices.
Expanded Access for Clergy. Allowing clergy who serve congregations in the facility’s county to visit at will may enhance the ability of confined individuals to access religious support, which can be critical for rehabilitation and mental health.
Balance of Power and Civil Rights Considerations. While the bill increases access for certain officials and clergy, it raises questions about privacy and the rights of confined individuals, as well as the potential for political or non-clinical influence on facility operations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let Legislators Visit Confinement
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
- Referred to mental health and developmental disabilities
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.
Let Lawmakers Inspect Facilities
In Assembly Committee · Mental Health · Sponsor Harvey Epstein
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4567
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to authorizing certain legislators to visit sex offender civil confinement facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 10.10 of the mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new subdivision (j) to read as follows:
(j) The following persons shall be authorized to visit at pleasure all secure treatment facilities established under this article: governor and lieutenant-governor, commissioner of general services, secretary of state, comptroller and attorney-general, members of the legislature and their accompanying staff, judges of the court of appeals, supreme court and county judges, district attorneys and every clergyman or minister, as such terms are defined in section two of the religious corporations law, having charge of a congregation in the county wherein any such facility is situated.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10768-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to authorizing certain legislators to visit sex offender civil confinement facilities
Summary of provisions
This bill amends section 10.10 of the mental hygiene law to permit state legislators and other state officials to visit facilities where sex offenders are civilly confined.
Justification
Currently legislators, the governor, judges and clergy, among others, are permitted to enter New York prisons and jails at any time. The same right of entry does not apply to secure mental units where convicted sex offenders are placed by the state under civil confinement. This bill would allow lawmakers to enter those facilities to evaluate the imple- mentation and effect of the civil confinement law and to speak to staff and inmates about the conditions of confinement and any problems that might arise in those facilities.
Legislative history of bill
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.