NY A08260

Amends Correction Law Section 137 to require the Department of Corrections, in consultation with mental health clinicians, to divert or remove incarcerated individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness from segregated confinement to a residential mental health treatment unit.

Applies to individuals who have been diagnosed at any time with serious mental illness as defined in specified subparagraphs (i, iii, iv, and v) of paragraph (e), where confinement could potentially exceed thirty days.

Extends the requirement to cover removal from both segregated confinement and confinement in residential rehabilitation units to residential mental health treatment units.

Clarifies that the diversion or removal requirement does not prevent the disciplinary process from proceeding in accordance with department rules and regulations for disciplinary hearings.

Takes effect thirty days after becoming law, with conditional effective date provisions if related Chapter 93 of the Laws of 2021 has not yet taken effect.