S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6759
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 12, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER, PHEFFER AMATO, BRONSON, LUNSFORD, McMA-
HON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Labor
AN ACT to amend the labor law, in relation to establishing a correction-
al employee protective labor practices board
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The labor law is amended by adding a new article 37 to read
as follows:
ARTICLE 37
PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES FOR STATE CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES
SECTION 1045. CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES BOARD.
§ 1045. CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES BOARD. 1.
ESTABLISHMENT. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL HEREBY CONVENE A STATE CORRECTION-
AL EMPLOYEE PROTECTIVE LABOR PRACTICES BOARD, HEREINAFTER "BOARD". THE
BOARD SHALL BE COMPRISED OF THIRTEEN MEMBERS, THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR
OR THEIR DESIGNEE WHO SHALL ACT AS CHAIRPERSON, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION OR THEIR DESIGNEE, A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LABOR UNION REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, A
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LABOR UNION REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL LIEUTENANTS,
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LABOR UNION REPRESENTING CORRECTIONAL PROFES-
SIONAL EMPLOYEES, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LABOR UNION REPRESENTING
CORRECTIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND NONPROFESSIONAL STAFF, A REPRESENTATIVE
OF THE CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY
THE STATE SENATE MAJORITY, ONE MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE STATE SENATE
MINORITY, TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY MAJORITY AND ONE
MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE STATE ASSEMBLY MINORITY. MEMBERS APPOINTED BY
THE LEGISLATURE SHALL HAVE RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL OR LIVED EXPERIENCE.
THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL NOT RECEIVE A SALARY OR OTHER COMPEN-
SATION BUT SHALL BE PAID ACTUAL AND NECESSARY TRAVELING EXPENSES WHILE
ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
2. ORGANIZATION. THREE-QUARTERS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL
CONSTITUTE A QUORUM. THE CHAIRPERSON MAY FROM TIME TO TIME FORMULATE
RULES GOVERNING THE MANNER IN WHICH THE BOARD SHALL FUNCTION AND PERFORM
ITS DUTIES UNDER THIS ARTICLE.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10465-01-5
A. 6759 2
3. FUNCTIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. (A) WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS OF THE
APPOINTMENT OF THE BOARD, THE BOARD SHALL CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS. THE
BOARD SHALL ONLY MEET WITHIN THE STATE AND MUST HOLD AT LEAST THREE
HEARINGS AT WHICH THE PUBLIC WILL BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
COMMENTS. AT LEAST ONE SPANISH LANGUAGE INTERPRETER SHALL BE PRESENT AT
EACH PUBLIC HEARING TO INTERPRET ORAL TESTIMONY DELIVERED IN SPANISH.
ANY MATERIALS ADVERTISING SUCH HEARINGS SHALL BE BILINGUAL IN ENGLISH
AND SPANISH.
(B) THE BOARD SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ADMINISTER OATHS AND TO REQUIRE
BY SUBPOENA THE ATTENDANCE AND TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES, AND THE
PRODUCTION OF ALL BOOKS, RECORDS, AND OTHER EVIDENCE RELATIVE TO ANY
MATTERS UNDER INQUIRY. SUCH SUBPOENAS SHALL BE SIGNED AND ISSUED BY THE
CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD AND SHALL BE SERVED AND HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS
IF ISSUED OUT OF THE SUPREME COURT. THE BOARD SHALL HAVE POWER TO CAUSE
DEPOSITIONS OF WITNESSES RESIDING WITHIN OR WITHOUT THE STATE TO BE
TAKEN IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED FOR LIKE DEPOSITIONS IN CIVIL ACTIONS IN
THE SUPREME COURT. THE BOARD SHALL NOT BE BOUND BY COMMON LAW OR STATU-
TORY RULES OF PROCEDURE OR EVIDENCE.
(C) THE BOARD SHALL CONSULT WITH CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES AND THEIR
RESPECTIVE REPRESENTATIVES, WITH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, AND WITH SUCH
OTHER PERSONS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONERS OF HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND
OFFICE OF ADDICTION SERVICES AND SUPPORT, AS IT SHALL DETERMINE.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF LAW, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
MAY ENTER ANY STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO TOUR THE FACILITY AND
INTERVIEW CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS, WITH AT
LEAST THREE DAYS' ADVANCE NOTICE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND
COMMUNITY SERVICES.
(D) THE BOARD SHALL REVIEW REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND COMMUNITY SUPERVISION AND EVALUATE LEVELS
OF STAFFING, OVERTIME PRACTICES, THE EFFECT OF RECENT CORRECTIONAL
FACILITY CLOSURES ON THE CORRECTIONAL WORKFORCE, AND ANY OTHER ASPECT OF
THE OPERATION OF CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES RELATING TO LABOR PRACTICES,
WORKING CONDITIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL SAFETY OF BOTH CORRECTIONAL EMPLOY-
EES AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.
(E) THE BOARD SHALL CONSIDER EVIDENCE-BASED BEST PRACTICES UTILIZED IN
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES OF OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES IN MAKING ITS
RECOMMENDATIONS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
(F) NOTHING CONTAINED IN THE BOARD'S REPORT OR RECOMMENDATIONS MADE
PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL DIMINISH OR LIMIT ANY RIGHTS,
PROTECTIONS, BENEFITS OR ENTITLEMENTS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO ANY CORREC-
TIONAL EMPLOYEE.
4. REPORT. THE BOARD SHALL MAKE A REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE, INCLUDING ITS RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING LABOR PRACTICES AND
WORKING CONDITIONS FOR CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES, AND INSTITUTIONAL SAFETY
OF BOTH CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEES AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. THE REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD SHALL BE SUBMITTED ONLY AFTER A VOTE OF
NOT LESS THAN A MAJORITY OF ALL ITS MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF SUCH REPORT
AND RECOMMENDATIONS. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN
SEPTEMBER THIRTIETH, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX.
5. REGULATIONS. THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND
COMMUNITY SUPERVISION SHALL ISSUE NEW REGULATIONS, POLICIES AND PROCE-
DURES IN KEEPING WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD TO THE EXTENT
PRACTICABLE BY MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SEVEN.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.