NY A03992

Expands criteria for removing inmates from segregated confinement by including any inmate who has ever been diagnosed with serious mental illness, rather than limiting to current diagnoses or diagnoses during segregation.

Requires the Department of Corrections, in consultation with mental health clinicians, to divert or remove inmates with serious mental illness from segregated confinement lasting over 30 days to a residential mental health treatment unit.

Defines serious mental illness to include specific Axis I diagnoses: schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective disorder, brief psychotic disorder, substance-induced psychotic disorder, psychotic disorder not otherwise specified, major depressive disorders, and bipolar disorder I and II.

Clarifies that removal of inmates with mental illness does not prevent the disciplinary process from proceeding according to department rules and regulations for disciplinary hearings.

Takes effect 30 days after becoming law.