Authorizes the use of body imaging scanning equipment in certain facilities for youth and adolescent offenders placed with or committed to the office of children and family services.
This bill amends the Public Health Law to expand authorization for body imaging scanning equipment that uses ionizing radiation in correctional and detention settings. In addition to existing authority for local, state, and certain correctional facilities, it would expressly allow use in secure detention facilities, specialized secure detention facilities, and facilities for youth placed with or committed to the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). The scans may be used to screen people detained in, committed to, visiting, or employed in those facilities as part of facility security programs.
The bill also directs the relevant agencies to adopt regulations governing when scans may be used, how alternative screening methods must be offered, and how people who decline scanning for medical or other reasons must be protected from harassment, intimidation, or discipline. It sets training requirements for personnel, limits radiation exposure, prohibits scanning pregnant women, requires registration and inspection of equipment, and mandates recordkeeping for each use of the equipment. Annual reporting would be required on usage, exposure levels, contraband detection, and any injuries or illnesses associated with the scans.
The bill would broaden state law governing body imaging scanners by adding OCFS youth facilities and secure detention settings to the list of locations where such equipment may be used, while also refining the regulatory framework for their operation. It would require the Department of Health, the State Commission of Correction, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and OCFS to promulgate or update rules on screening procedures, employee searches, training, exposure limits, equipment registration, inspections, and reporting. The measure affects incarcerated individuals, detained youth, visitors, and employees in the covered facilities, and it creates additional compliance obligations for facility administrators and state agencies.
The bill text and available context suggest a generally security-focused and administrative approach, with the measure framed as an operational tool for preventing contraband in youth and detention facilities. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, there is no documented public debate in the supplied materials. The overall tone of the legislation is cautious rather than expansive, emphasizing regulation, safety limits, and alternatives to scanning for those who object or cannot be scanned.
The main points of potential contention are the use of ionizing radiation on youth and other individuals in custody or detention, and the balance between institutional security and personal privacy or bodily autonomy. The bill attempts to address these concerns by limiting exposure, banning scans of pregnant women, requiring alternative screening methods, and prohibiting retaliation against those who choose alternatives. Another likely area of concern is the extension of this authority into OCFS youth facilities and specialized secure detention settings, where advocates may scrutinize the appropriateness of scanner use on minors and adolescent offenders.