STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
5931
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 9, 2015
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to increasing access to
substance abuse programming for prisoners whose first language is not
English
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 624
2 to read as follows:
3 § 624. Access to substance abuse programming for certain prisoners.
4 The commissioner shall take steps to ensure that prisoners whose first
5 language is not English are able to understand, participate and complete
6 substance abuse programs provided in the prisons. Such steps may
7 include, but need not be limited to, increased employment of bilingual
8 substance abuse counselors and program staff, translation of program
9 content and materials, targeted programs for non-English speaking pris-
10 oners and other strategies determined by the commissioner in consulta-
11 tion with the commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse services.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04610-01-5
