NY State Senate Bill S731A

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime And Correction Committee

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (9)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2020	referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Jun 20, 2019	committed to rules
May 13, 2019	advanced to third reading
May 08, 2019	2nd report cal.
May 07, 2019	1st report cal.595
Mar 11, 2019	reported and committed to finance
Feb 28, 2019	print number 731a
Feb 28, 2019	amend and recommit to crime victims, crime and correction
Jan 09, 2019	referred to crime victims, crime and correction

Votes

view votes

May 7, 2019 - Finance committee Vote

S731A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Mar 11, 2019 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee Vote

S731A

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

show Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee vote details

Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Vote: Mar 11, 2019

aye (5)

nay (2)

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

Original

A (Active)

Co-Sponsors

S731 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5942
Current Committee:: Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Law Section:: Correction Law
Laws Affected:: Add §138-b, Cor L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S5693
2021-2022: S4956, A4881, A9727
2023-2024: S1578, A131

S731 - Summary

Relates to available transportation for correction facility visitation; provides for at a minimum, bi-monthly free transportation from the city of New York, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany.

S731 - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S731

SPONSOR: MONTGOMERY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to available transporta-
tion for correction facility visitation

 
PURPOSE:

To restore transportation for visitors from certain cities to state
correctional facilities

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section 138-b to the correction law. Section 2
provides an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

From 1973 to 2011, DOCCS provided free transportation to its prisons to
help families stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Bus service
ran on weekends from NYC,Rochester, Syracuse and Albany to every prison
in the state. This service, unmatched by any other state corrections
department, was relied upon by families who often lived far from the
prisons they visited and who lacked the financial means to make such
trips on their own. In early 2811, the program was terminated to save a
little less than $1.5 million.

Family visits contribute to facility safety because they motivate pris-
oners to complete programs and follow facility rules. Research shows
that visits are an important component of managing prisoner behavior,
reducing recidivism and promoting positive parent-child relationships.
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Corrections found that
inmates who receive a single visit have a 13% reduction in recidivism
compared to inmates who do not receive any visits. Visits also facili-
tate reentry because families are often the primary source of support
for housing, clothes, food and other necessities when a person is
released from prison. The impact of visitation on recidivism has signif-
icant cost implications, given the annual prison cost in NY is $60K per
person. DOCCS should focus on increasing visitation, not making it more
difficult.

For children with incarcerated parents, in-person visits have a positive
impact on their emotional well-being and future life outcomes. In 2011,
DOCCS reported that 72% of women and 62% of men in prison were parents.
This suggests the impact of their incarceration is felt by a significant
number of children. For children, visits with their incarcerated parents
have proven beneficial on a number of levels and are associated with
higher self-esteem, improved non-verbal IQ scores, better adjustment to
school and foster care and fewer behavior problems. Increased contact
between parents and children may have upfront costs, such as the bus
program, but offer long-term benefits to society and to families.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Approximately $1.5 million

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.

S731 - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                   731

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  MONTGOMERY  -- read twice and ordered printed, and
  when printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims,  Crime
  and Correction

AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to available transporta-
  tion for correction facility visitation

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 138-b
to read as follows:
  § 138-B. VISITOR TRANSPORTATION. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INMATE VISIT-
ING PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR VISITORS TO
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT NO LESS THAN  BIMONTHLY,
AT  NO  COST TO VISITORS. TRANSPORTATION SHALL BE PROVIDED FROM THE CITY
OF NEW YORK, ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE AND ALBANY TO CORRECTIONAL  FACILITIES,
AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSIONER. INFORMATION CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION
SHALL  BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC WEBSITE, AND SHALL BE AVAIL-
ABLE FROM THE TELEPHONE  NUMBER  DESIGNATED,  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  ONE
HUNDRED  THIRTY-EIGHT-A OF THIS ARTICLE. NOTICE OF AVAILABLE TRANSPORTA-
TION SHALL BE PROVIDED TO INMATES UPON RECEPTION AND UPON TRANSFER TO  A
NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
  §  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03542-01-9

Co-Sponsors

view additional co-sponsors

S731A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5942
Current Committee:: Senate Crime Victims, Crime And Correction
Law Section:: Correction Law
Laws Affected:: Add §138-b, Cor L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S5693
2021-2022: S4956, A4881, A9727
2023-2024: S1578, A131

S731A (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to available transportation for correction facility visitation; provides for at a minimum, bi-monthly free transportation from the city of New York, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany.

S731A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S731A

SPONSOR: MONTGOMERY
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the correction law, in relation to
available transportation for correction facility visitation

 
PURPOSE:

To restore transportation for visitors from certain cities to state
correctional facilities

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 adds a new section 138-b to the correction law. Section 2
provides an effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

From 1973 to 2011, DOCCS provided free transportation to its prisons to
help families stay connected with incarcerated loved ones. Bus service

ran on weekends from NYC, Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo and Albany to
every prison in the state. This service, unmatched by any other state
corrections department, was relied upon by families who often lived far
from the prisons they visited and who lacked the financial means to make
such trips on their own. In early 2011, the program was terminated to
save a little less than $1.5 million.

Family visits contribute to facility safety because they motivate pris-
oners to complete programs and follow facility rules. Research shows
that visits are an important component of managing prisoner behavior,
reducing recidivism and promoting positive parent-child relationships.
Data collected by the Minnesota Department of Corrections found that
inmates who receive a single visit have a 13% reduction in recidivism
compared to inmates who do not receive any visits. Visits also facili-
tate reentry because families are often the primary source of support
for housing, clothes, food and other necessities when a person is
released from prison. The impact of visitation on recidivism has signif-
icant cost implications, given the annual prison cost in NY is $60K per
person. DOCCS should focus on increasing visitation, not making it more
difficult.

For children with incarcerated parents, in-person visits have a positive
impact on their emotional well-being and future life outcomes. In 2011,
DOCCS reported that 72% of women and 62% of men in prison were parents.
This suggests the impact of their incarceration is felt by a significant
number of children. For children, visits with their incarcerated parents
have proven beneficial on a number of levels and are associated with
higher self-esteem, improved non-verbal IQ scores, better adjustment to
school and foster care and fewer behavior problems. Increased contact
between parents and children may have upfront costs, such as the bus
program, but offer long-term benefits to society and to families.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Approximately $1.5 million

 
LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law.

S731A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 731--A

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 9, 2019
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. MONTGOMERY, BENJAMIN, SALAZAR, SERRANO -- read twice
  and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
  on  Crime  Victims, Crime and Correction -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to available transporta-
  tion for correction facility visitation

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 138-b
to read as follows:
  § 138-B. VISITOR TRANSPORTATION. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INMATE VISIT-
ING PROGRAM, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR VISITORS TO
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT NO LESS THAN  BIMONTHLY,
AT  NO  COST TO VISITORS. TRANSPORTATION SHALL BE PROVIDED FROM THE CITY
OF NEW YORK, ROCHESTER, SYRACUSE, BUFFALO  AND  ALBANY  TO  CORRECTIONAL
FACILITIES,  AS  DETERMINED  BY THE COMMISSIONER. INFORMATION CONCERNING
TRANSPORTATION SHALL BE POSTED ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC  WEBSITE,  AND
SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  FROM  THE TELEPHONE NUMBER DESIGNATED, PURSUANT TO
SECTION ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-EIGHT-A OF THIS ARTICLE. NOTICE OF  AVAILABLE
TRANSPORTATION  SHALL  BE  PROVIDED  TO  INMATES UPON RECEPTION AND UPON
TRANSFER TO A NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
  § 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become  a
law.



 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03542-04-9

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S731A

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime And Correction Committee

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 7, 2019 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: May 7, 2019

Mar 11, 2019 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee Vote

Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Vote: Mar 11, 2019

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S731 - Details

S731 - Summary

S731 - Sponsor Memo

S731 - Bill Text download pdf

Co-Sponsors

S731A (ACTIVE) - Details

S731A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S731A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S731A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S731A

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Crime Victims, Crime And Correction Committee

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 7, 2019 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: May 7, 2019

Mar 11, 2019 - Crime Victims, Crime and Correction committee Vote

Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee Vote: Mar 11, 2019

Bill Amendments

Co-Sponsors

S731 - Details

S731 - Summary

S731 - Sponsor Memo

S731 - Bill Text download pdf

Sponsor's Position

Co-Sponsors

S731A (ACTIVE) - Details

S731A (ACTIVE) - Summary

S731A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S731A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments