Assembly Bill A6477

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6477
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                               March 5, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SEPTIMO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   office  of  reentry  services  within the division of criminal justice
   services
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "recidivism reduction act".
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  837-y  to
 read as follows:
   §  837-Y.  OFFICE  OF REENTRY SERVICES. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
 WITHIN THE DIVISION AN OFFICE OF REENTRY SERVICES TO FACILITATE SUCCESS-
 FUL REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY BY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.
   (A) AS USED IN THIS  SECTION,  THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS  SHALL  HAVE  THE
 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I) "OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF REENTRY SERVICES; AND
   (II)  "INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL"  SHALL  MEAN  A  PERSON  ELIGIBLE FOR
 RELEASE FROM A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY,  AS
 DEFINED BY SECTION TWO OF THE CORRECTION LAW; AND
   (B)  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  SUCH  OFFICE  SHALL BE A DIRECTOR
 APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH DIRECTOR:
   (I) SHALL EXERCISE ALL POWERS VESTED IN THE OFFICE;
   (II) MAY DELEGATE ANY FUNCTION, POWER, OR DUTY ASSIGNED TO THE  OFFICE
 TO AN EMPLOYEE OF SUCH OFFICE;
   (III)  MAY  REQUEST  AND  RECEIVE  FROM  ANY DEPARTMENT, AGENCY OF THE
 STATE, OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY SUCH ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION AND DATA AS WILL
 ENABLE THE OFFICE TO  PROPERLY  CARRY  OUT  ITS  FUNCTIONS,  POWERS  AND
 DUTIES; AND
   (IV)  MAY  HIRE  AND  DISMISS EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE FOR CAUSE AND IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07003-01-5
              

 A. 6477                             2
 
   (C) SUCH OFFICE'S PRINCIPAL OFFICE SHALL BE IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
   2.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  ESTABLISH,  PROMOTE,  AND  ADMINISTER  REENTRY
 PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.
   (A) SUCH OFFICE MAY ENTER  INTO  AGREEMENTS  WITH  ANY  PERSON,  FIRM,
 CORPORATION, MUNICIPALITY, OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AS MAY BE NECESSARY OR
 CONVENIENT  TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES EXPRESSLY SET
 FORTH IN THIS SECTION.
   (B) SUCH OFFICE SHALL PROVIDE INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS  WITH  REENTRY
 ASSISTANCE  THAT  INCLUDES,  BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ESTABLISHING REENTRY
 PROGRAMS INSIDE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND LOCAL  CORRECTIONAL  FACILI-
 TIES AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS, REFERRALS
 TO MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICE PROVIDERS,
 CONNECTIONS  TO  EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  AND  JOB  TRAINING PROGRAMS,
 ASSISTANCE IN FINDING  STABLE  HOUSING  OPTIONS  TO  BE  AVAILABLE  UPON
 RELEASE,  AND  GENERAL  SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL FOR AN
 INDIVIDUAL REINTEGRATING INTO THE COMMUNITY. SUCH OFFICES SHALL:
   (I) SCREEN EACH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE START
 OF THEIR SENTENCE TO COLLECT FROM SUCH INDIVIDUAL  INFORMATION  CONCERN-
 ING:
   (1)  THE  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL'S MEDICAL NEEDS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 LIMITED TO, MEDICAL CONDITIONS, MEDICATIONS,  MENTAL  HEALTH  CARE,  AND
 DISABILITIES; AND
   (2)  THE  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL'S  LEVEL OF EDUCATION AND JOB READ-
 INESS;
   (II) ENSURE THAT A REENTRY PREPARATION CASEWORKER IS AVAILABLE TO MEET
 WITH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS FOR IN-PERSON  REENTRY  PREPARATION  MEET-
 INGS.  SUCH CASEWORKER SHALL MEET WITH AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL:
   (1)  WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S ADMISSION TO A
 CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO CREATE A REENTRY
 PLAN IN COLLABORATION WITH SUCH INDIVIDUAL AND CONNECT THEM WITH  AVAIL-
 ABLE ON-SITE REENTRY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS;
   (2)  WHEN  AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL ELECTS TO MEET WITH A CASEWORKER
 FOR REENTRY COUNSELING AND SUPPORT RELATED TO SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S  REENTRY
 PREPARATIONS; AND
   (3)  AT LEAST SIX MONTHS BEFORE AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S SCHEDULED
 RELEASE TO CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT IN OBTAINING  HOUSING,  EMPLOYMENT,
 HEALTHCARE,  AND  OTHER SUPPORT DESIGNED TO FACILITATE SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S
 SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THE COMMUNITY;
   (III) MAKE REENTRY ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE  TO  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS
 FOR  THE  DURATION  OF  THEIR  CONFINEMENT IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR
 LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND UP TO THREE YEARS AFTER  THE  DATE  SUCH
 INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED; AND
   (IV) ENSURE THAT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR
 RESIDENCE WITHIN THE STATE ON THE DAY SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED.
   (C)  SUCH  OFFICE  SHALL  CREATE  AND  MAINTAIN  A PUBLIC DIRECTORY OF
 REENTRY SUPPORT SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE  STATE,  MUNICIPALITIES  WITHIN
 THE  STATE,  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERNMENT, AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. SUCH
 DIRECTORY SHALL BE:
   (I) ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; AND
   (II) PROVIDED IN PRINTED FORM TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AT LEAST SIX
 MONTHS BEFORE SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED.
   (D) SUCH OFFICE SHALL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE  THAT  INCAR-
 CERATED  INDIVIDUALS  HAVE  ACCESS  TO STATE, FEDERAL, OR PRIVATE HEALTH
 INSURERS, INCLUDING MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, UPON RELEASE.
   § 3. The annual budget submitted  by  the  governor  shall  separately
 state the recommended appropriations for the office of reentry services.
 A. 6477                             3
 
 Upon  enactment,  these  separately stated appropriations for the office
 shall not be decreased by  interchange  with  any  other  appropriation,
 notwithstanding the state finance law.
   §  4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.