NY A08192

Expands the definition of serious mental illness triggering mandatory diversion from segregated confinement to include individuals diagnosed with mental illness at any time during incarceration, not just those with current diagnoses.

Requires the Department of Corrections, in consultation with mental health clinicians, to remove incarcerated individuals with serious mental illness from segregated confinement or residential rehabilitation units where confinement could exceed 30 days and place them in residential mental health treatment units.

Specifies nine categories of Axis I diagnoses qualifying as serious mental illness: 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.

Preserves the department's ability to proceed with disciplinary processes according to departmental rules and regulations regardless of transfer to mental health treatment units.

Takes effect 30 days after becoming law.