NY A01261

Establishes comprehensive rights for incarcerated individuals including daily contact visits with up to four visitors, free phone calls and emails via tablets for at least four hours daily, and the right to receive packages directly from loved ones without vendor restrictions

Limits use of force by correctional staff to last resort situations after exhausting de-escalation techniques, prohibits high-impact force such as strikes to the head, kicks, and choke holds except in imminent danger of death, and bans steel batons entirely

Requires at least 14 hours of out-of-cell time daily for general population inmates, including seven hours of congregate programming and two hours of congregate recreation, with access to core programs in rehabilitative units

Expands "special populations" protections to include all individuals with any diagnosable condition or disability, extends post-partum protections from eight weeks to 18 months, and clarifies these individuals cannot be placed in segregated confinement

Mandates enhanced due process for disciplinary hearings including right to legal representation, access to all evidence 48 hours before hearings, cross-examination of witnesses, and caps segregated confinement sanctions at 15 days per incident regardless of number of charges