S4621

The New York State Senate passed legislation to amend the Correction Law, with a 50-10 vote on Calendar Number 680, Senate Print 4621, sponsored by Sen. Sepúlveda. The bill addresses mental health protections in solitary confinement by correcting what supporters say is an overly narrow definition of mental illness under the HALT Solitary Confinement Law. Sen. Salazar, voting in favor, cited peer-reviewed research showing that solitary confinement increases suicide and overdose risk for individuals with mental health conditions, with half of all prison and jail suicides occurring in solitary units. She argued the current definition excludes vulnerable populations from protective programs and that the bill could save lives. Ten senators voted against the measure: Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, Lanza, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, and Weber.

The Senate passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Sepúlveda to amend the Correction Law on a 50-11 roll call vote. The bill, Calendar Number 1090 (S4621), takes effect 90 days after becoming law. Eleven senators voted in opposition: Borrello, Gallivan, Griffo, Helming, O'Mara, Ortt, Rhoads, Stec, Tedisco, Walczyk and Weber. No debate was recorded during floor consideration.