S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
769
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 9, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. RICHARDSON -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Correction
AN ACT to create a temporary state commission to study and investigate
issues affecting reentry of inmates released from correctional facili-
ties; making an appropriation therefor; and providing for the repeal
of such provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A temporary state commission, to be known as the New York
state criminal justice commission on reentry (hereinafter "commission"),
is hereby created to study issues, including relevant statutes, regu-
lations and existing programs involving reentry and re-integration of
inmates released from state and local correctional facilities. The
commission shall investigate all factors that impede successful re-inte-
gration into society and obviate the concept of a second chance. The
commission shall analyze the impact of existing policies on successful
reentry, identify specific obstacles to re-integration and compare poli-
cies of this state to those of other states and the federal government.
The commission shall collect data from state and federal agencies and
may analyze any current research deemed relevant and appropriate.
§ 2. a. The commission shall consist of eighteen members as follows:
three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; three
members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two
members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two
members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
Members so appointed shall be representative of community based provid-
ers of employment, education, housing and other services needed by indi-
viduals returning to society from prison, criminal justice advocates,
and academic professionals in the field of criminal justice. The remain-
ing members shall be the heads of the following departments or agencies
or their respective designees: the department of corrections and commu-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05590-01-7
A. 769 2
nity supervision, the department of criminal justice services, the divi-
sion of housing and community renewal, the department of labor, the
department of education, the office of alcoholism and substance abuse
services, the office of probation and correctional alternatives and the
division of parole. No person shall be a member of such commission while
such person is a member of the senate or assembly. Any vacancy on such
commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appoint-
ment was made. The chairperson of the commission shall be the head or
designee of the division of criminal justice services. The vice-chair-
person of the commission shall be a representative of one of the commu-
nity-based organizations and appointed by the chairperson.
b. Except as provided in subdivision a of this section, no member,
officer or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding
any other public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any
such office or employment by reason of his or her appointment hereunder,
notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law,
ordinance or city charter.
§ 3. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and fix
their compensation within the amounts made available by appropriation
therefor.
§ 5. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be
authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in cooper-
ation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency. Such
commission shall meet and hold public hearings or private meetings with-
in or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative
committee pursuant to the legislative law.
§ 6. The commission may request and shall receive from any court in
the state and from any subdivision, department, board, bureau, commis-
sion, office, agency or other instrumentality of the state or of any
political subdivision thereof such facilities, assistance and data as it
deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its powers and
duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
§ 7. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and
appropriate, to the governor and the legislature no later than the thir-
ty-first of December in the year next succeeding the year in which this
act shall have become a law.
§ 8. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) or so
much thereof as may be deemed necessary is hereby appropriated out of
any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to the credit of
the state purposes account for services and expenses of the state crimi-
nal justice commission on reentry, not otherwise appropriated, and made
immediately available for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of
this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the
comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the chair of the tempo-
rary commission established by this act.
§ 9. This act shall take effect immediately and shall continue in full
force and effect until the thirty-first of December next succeeding the
year in which it shall have become a law when upon such date the
provisions of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed.