A09055 Summary:

BILL NO    A09055 

SAME AS    No same as

SPONSOR    Tedisco

COSPNSR    Hawley, McDonough

MLTSPNSR   Koon, Sayward

Add S601-e, Cor L

Provides for inmate reimbursement of expenses of confinement in certain
instances.

A09055 Actions:

BILL NO    A09055 

06/23/2009 referred to correction
01/06/2010 referred to correction

A09055 Votes:

A09055 Memo:

BILL NUMBER:A9055

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the correction law, in relation to
reimbursement of inmate expenses of imprisonment

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This bill adds a new section 601-e to
the Correction Law to require wealthy inmates to pay the costs
associated with their incarceration.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: This bill creates a schedule to
determine the percentage of the costs of incarceration that must be
born by the inmate. An inmate with total assets of $200,000 or more
shall pay one hundred percent of his or her incarceration costs. An
inmate with assets of more that $160,000 but less than $200,000 shall
pay eighty percent of his or her incarceration costs. Inmates with
assets of $120,000 or more but less than $160,000 shall pay sixty
percent. An in mate with assets of $80,000 or more but less than
$120,000 shall pay forty percent of his or her costs. An inmate with
assets of $40,000 but less than $80,000 shall pay twenty percent of
his or her expenses. Lastly, an inmate with total assets less than
$40,000 shall not be required to pay any of the costs associated wit
incarceration. The term "total assets" shall not include the value of
an inmate's home or any equity in that home,

JUSTIFICATION: This legislation seeks to eliminate situations where
taxpayers are forced to pay costs associated with incarcerating
well-off criminals. Taxpayers should not be stuck with the bill
housing well off criminals that often are able to return to their
opulent lifestyles once they are released. Forcing wealthy criminals
to pay the costs associated with their incarceration will act as a
deterrent and will prevent the inappropriate use of taxpayer funds in
our prisons. "A recent incident in lower Manhattan's Tombs prison
demonstrates the needs for this legislation. That facility was used as
a social club for parties hosted by wealthy inmates and their
connected friends. This bill will hold criminals accountable for their
actions while taking the fiscal burden off our taxpayers.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect on the one hundred
twentieth day after it shall have become a law; provided however, that
effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of.
regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
effective date is authorized to be made and completed on or before
such date.