New York Assembly Bill A03780

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/25
• Refer: 1/30/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Relates to allowing telephone calls prior to an incarcerated individual's transfer except under exceptional circumstances.

Summary

A03780 would amend New York’s correction law to require the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to give an incarcerated person at least one free personal phone call immediately before a transfer to another correctional facility, unless exceptional circumstances create an unacceptable safety or security risk. The bill also requires the department to electronically notify the incarcerated person’s next of kin or personal representative immediately prior to the transfer. The bill preserves a backup communication option after transfer as well: within 24 hours of arrival at the new facility, the incarcerated person must be allowed at least one personal phone call unless doing so would pose an unacceptable risk. If security precautions prevent the call, a designated staff member must make a call to a person chosen by the incarcerated individual, unless the individual declines. The measure would take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Impact

The bill would modify Correction Law section 23 governing inmate transfers by adding a new right to a pre-transfer telephone call and clarifying notification obligations to family or a personal representative. It would also codify limited exceptions for safety and security, require contemporaneous written documentation when a call is denied, and preserve an alternative contact mechanism after transfer. The practical effect would be to impose a new procedural requirement on correctional facilities and staff during transfer operations, while expanding communication rights for incarcerated individuals and their families.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a modest inmate-rights and family-notification reform rather than a broad correctional policy overhaul. The sponsors’ choice to require a free call and immediate notice suggests a focus on humane treatment, transparency, and maintaining family contact during transfers. No committee transcript or vote data is available here, so there is no recorded public debate or formal vote history to indicate broader support or opposition.

Contention

The main point of contention built into the bill is the balance between communication rights and institutional safety. The bill allows exceptions when a call would create an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of incarcerated individuals or staff, and it requires written documentation when that exception is used. Any opposition would likely center on operational burden, staffing, and security discretion for correctional administrators, while supporters would likely emphasize due process, family contact, and reducing the stress and confusion associated with transfers.