S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6004
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 21, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. GOTTFRIED, AUBRY, PAULIN, PEOPLES-STOKES, JAFFEE,
   COLTON,  ROSENTHAL,  HEVESI,  BRONSON,  WALKER,  ABINANTI,  SEPULVEDA,
   D'URSO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.  of  A.  ARROYO,  CAHILL,  CARROLL,
   COOK, CYMBROWITZ, DINOWITZ, GALEF, GANTT, GLICK, HOOPER, LIFTON, McDO-
   NALD,  ORTIZ,  PERRY,  RIVERA,  ROZIC -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Correction
 
 AN ACT to amend the correction  law,  in  relation  to  authorizing  the
   commissioner  of  corrections  and  community  supervision  to develop
   programs in correctional facilities to prevent the spread of  sexually
   transmitted diseases
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 141-a
 to read as follows:
   § 141-A. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND HIV; PREVENTION.  1.    THE
 COMMISSIONER,  TOGETHER  WITH  THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, SHALL DEVELOP
 AND IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS IN EVERY CORRECTIONAL  FACILITY  TO  PREVENT  THE
 SPREAD OF HEPATITIS C, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND HUMAN IMMUNODE-
 FICIENCY  VIRUS  INFECTION,  FOR  DEPARTMENT  EMPLOYEES AND INCARCERATED
 INDIVIDUALS,  INCLUDING  EDUCATION,  GROUP  AND  INDIVIDUAL  COUNSELING,
 OUTREACH TO THE INCARCERATED POPULATION, HARM REDUCTION, DISCHARGE PLAN-
 NING,  OFFERING  TESTING, AND AVAILABILITY OF PROPHYLACTIC DEVICES.  THE
 PROGRAM MAY PROVIDE FOR TRAINING INCARCERATED PERSONS TO  WORK  AS  PEER
 EDUCATORS IN THE PROGRAM.
   2.  THESE PROGRAMS SHALL BE OFFERED IN SUCH MANNER AND AT SUCH TIME AS
 TO ENCOURAGE ATTENDANCE BY ALL  DEPARTMENT  EMPLOYEES  AND  INCARCERATED
 PERSONS.  PROGRAMMING  AS  REQUIRED  BY  SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION
 SHALL INCLUDE  INCORPORATION  INTO  OTHER  CONTENT-NEUTRAL  PROGRAMS  TO
 ENSURE THAT ATTENDANCE IS NOT STIGMATIZED OR STIGMATIZING.
   3.  IN DEVELOPING PROGRAMS FOR THE PREVENTION OF HEPATITIS C, SEXUALLY
 TRANSMITTED DISEASES AND HUMAN  IMMUNODEFICIENCY  VIRUS  INFECTION,  THE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD02691-02-7

 A. 6004                             2
 
 COMMISSIONER  SHALL  CONSULT WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH TO IDENTIFY
 AND SELECT CURRICULA THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING  TRANS-
 MISSION  OF  INFECTIOUS  DISEASES  WITHIN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND TO
 CONTACTS OF FORMERLY INCARCERATED PERSONS UPON THEIR RELEASE.
   4.  THE  PROGRAMS  REQUIRED  BY SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHOULD
 INCLUDE PEER EDUCATION AND USE  OF  NON-DEPARTMENT  PERSONNEL  INCLUDING
 COMMUNITY  PROVIDERS, AND SHALL BE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE TARGETED POPU-
 LATION, SHALL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LITERACY LEVEL OF THE TARGETED POPU-
 LATION, AND SHALL BE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE TO  THE  SOCIAL  AND  CULTURAL
 NEEDS OF THE TARGETED POPULATION.
   5. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A COHORT OF SKILLED TRAINERS, THE COMMISSIONER,
 TOGETHER  WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, SHALL DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A
 PEER EDUCATOR TRAINING PROGRAM.  COMPLETION OF A PEER EDUCATOR  TRAINING
 PROGRAM  UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL PERMIT A PARTICIPANT TO RECEIVE A PEER
 EDUCATION CERTIFICATION.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.