ALBANY, NY — Sen. John J. Bonacic issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 1900 (S1900). The bill, which Bonacic sponsored, would protect correctional employees by amending a section of the Penal Law by adding saliva to the already existing list of fluids, and adding intentionally expectorating to the list of actions prohibited, meaning that prisoners would be penalized for spitting at prison workers. S1900 would classify such behavior as aggravated harassment of an employee. A previous version of this legislation passed the Senate in 2014.

“I am proud to sponsor this bill, which would provide some additional protections to employees of correctional facilities,” said Bonacic. “Working in corrections is a dangerous job, and this legislation goes a long way to safeguard the brave men and women who serve in these facilities. By prohibiting the tossing, throwing, expelling and expectorating of any bodily fluid, the men and women serving in our corrections facilities will know that the inmates will face further criminal prosecution if they decide to act in this way.”

The bill will now go to the Assembly for a vote.