Senate Bill S9063

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9063

SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to commencing a study on
the relationship between the corrections system and the child welfare
system

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To conduct a study on the relationship between the corrections systems
and the child welfare system by enabling data collection on inmates.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1: The correction law is amended by adding a new section 30 as
follows. The Commissioner shall conduct a comprehensive study on an
inmate's prior involvement with child welfare and juvenile systems.

Section 2: The Commissioner shall conduct surveys on current inmates in
state, county, and municipal correctional families based on a random
              

sample not less than ten percent of all state, county, and municipal
correctional facilities.

Section 3: The Commissioner shall ensure the confidentiality of each
survey participant by using self-administered questionnaires and other
similar survey methods.

Section 4: An inmate shall be deemed to have given his or her informed
consent only if he or she is informed in writing of the potential risks
and benefits of the study.

Section 5: The Commissioner shall make a written report on the relation-
ship between the corrections system and the child welfare system to the
governor, temporary president of the Senate and the speaker of the
Assembly of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations on or before
June thirtieth of the year.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Anecdotal data suggest that large numbers of incarcerated individuals
have histories with child welfare and/or juvenile systems. However, New
York State does not currently collect or track the relationship between
the corrections systems and the child welfare system. This bill would
require the New York State Department of Corrections and Community
Supervision (DOCCS) to conduct a study on current inmates in order to
produce a report on an inmate's prior involvement with the child welfare
system and/or the juvenile system. Such reports would include, but not
limited to: the inmate's previous placement in out-of-home care, speci-
fying type of placement, the approximate length of such period of place-
ment, the age of the inmate during such period of placement, the ethnic
background or the inmate, and the inmate's gender. The Commissioner of
DOCCS will conduct surveys on a random sample of not less than ten
percent of current inmates in all state, county, and municipal correc-
tional facilities. This study will ensure the confidentiality of each
survey participant by using self-administered questionnaires, which will
ensure the respondent's anonymity. Lastly, based on the survey results,

the Commissioner will report to the Governor and the Legislature on the
findings and recommendations of the study.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-20: A02205

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.