NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4957
SPONSOR: Jean-Pierre TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing incarcerat-
ed individuals with access to breast cancer screenings and information
about breast self-examinations
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill requires that individuals housed in state and local correc-
tional facilities be offered routine mammogram screenings every two
years at no additional cost to the individual. This bill also includes
an educational component given to inmates that focuses on the importance
of preventative health care measures.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one: Names the title for the bill "Eleonora Legacy Act"
Section two: Amends the correction law by adding a new section that
offers routine mammogram screenings for individuals housed in state and
local correctional facilities every two years.
Section three: Section 140 of the correction law is amended by creating
a new subdivision that creates an educational component for incarcerated
individuals to educate them on the importance of preventative health
care measures.
Section four:. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, there is no state law that requires routine-mammogram screen-
ings for incarcerated individuals. In 2008, The Federal Bureau of Pris-
ons (BOP), based on guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task'
Force (USPSTF), recommended that all sentenced female inmates receive a
Pap smear at intake, all average-risk sentenced women aged 40 and older,
and average risk females aged fifty through 74 receive mammograms every
2 years. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in New
York. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related death in New
York women. Incarcerated individuals should be offered the ability to
receive this important preventative health care measure on routine
basis. Incarcerated individuals should also be educated on theimportance
of preventative health care measures. The best protection against breast
cancer is early detection and diagnosis. Eleonora Radovan trag- ically
passed away from, breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 70, and she was
passionate about social justice and breast cancer prevention. Working
in conjunction with First Company Pink, a local charity focused on
breast health, and its corresponding 'got checked?' campaign, this vital
legislation will continue Eleonora's legacy of social justice and
prevention. By expanding these vital services to incarcerated individ-
uals, Eleonora's legacy will be one of saving lives.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: A.2147
2019-2020: A.11159
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after it is signed into law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4957
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JEAN-PIERRE -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to providing incarcerat-
ed individuals with access to breast cancer screenings and information
about breast self-examinations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Eleonora
2 legacy act".
3 § 2. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 627 to read
4 as follows:
5 § 627. Routine mammogram screenings. Routine mammogram screenings
6 shall be offered every two years at no cost to individuals housed in
7 state and local correctional facilities used for the general confinement
8 of inmates and in any other state or local facility where individuals
9 are detained or confined by law enforcement agencies.
10 § 3. Section 140 of the correction law is amended by adding a new
11 subdivision 5 to read as follows:
12 5. The department shall, to the best of its ability, provide all
13 sentenced incarcerated individuals with educational programs focused on
14 the importance of preventative health care measures that includes, but
15 is not limited to, breast self-examinations.
16 § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
17 it shall become have a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01201-01-3
