ny-CCS-24-26-00017-A: Fixed Camera Coverage

I.D. No. CCS-24-26-00017-A Filing No. 971 Filing Date: 2026-10-09 Effective Date: 2026-10-28 PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE State Administrative Pro- cedureAct, NOTICE is hereby given of the following action: Action taken: Addition of Part 1707 to Title 7 NYCRR. Statutory authority: Correction Law, sections 112 and 135-a Subject: Fixed Camera Coverage. Purpose: Establish regulations for providing fixed camera coverage in department facilities. Text or summary was published in the June 17, 2026 issue of the Register, I.D. No. CCS-24-26-00017-P. Final rule as compared with last published rule: No changes. Text of rule and any required statements and analyses may be obtained from: Jason Golub, Deputy Commissioner and Counsel, NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, 1220 Washington Avenue, Harriman State Campus,Albany, NY 12226-2050, (518) 457-4951, email: Rules@DOCCS.ny.gov Initial Review of Rule As a rule that requires a RFA, RAFA or JIS, this rule will be initially reviewed in the calendar year 2029, which is no later than the 3rd year af- ter the year in which this rule is being adopted. Assessment of Public Comment The Department received one public comment in which the commenter submitted several recommendations concerning the proposed regulations governing fixed camera coverage. The commenter recommended that the regulations: (1) require Department staff to report suspected tampering with fixed camera systems or recordings to the Office of the State Inspector General and the Department’s Office of Special Investigations (OSI), with manda- tory disciplinary and prosecutorial consequences for a failure to report; (2) expressly prohibit staff from intentionally covering, obstructing, NYS Register/October 28, 2026 disabling, or otherwise interfering with fixed cameras and create a rebutta- ble presumption of staff misconduct where a camera is obstructed during or immediately preceding an incident; (3) establish automatic five-year preservation holds for footage associ- ated with grievances alleging staff misconduct, FOIL requests, use-of- force incidents, serious injuries, and medical emergencies; (4) prohibit requiring a FOIL requester to identify or describe a specific event when seeking fixed camera footage; (5) prohibit blanket denials of FOIL requests for footage exceeding 30 minutes and require partial disclosure or redaction where only portions of the footage implicate security concerns; and (6) require five-year preservation of footage associated with OSI, State Commission of Correction, or Attorney General investigations, measured from the date the investigation is closed, and require immutable electronic logs of all access to recorded footage. Response The Department has considered these recommendations and declines to make the requested changes for the following reasons. Correction Law § 135-a requires the Department to promulgate regula- tions designed to maintain a consistent state of comprehensive camera coverage