Creates a temporary state commission to study and investigate issues affecting reentry of women released from correctional facilities; provides for the repeal of such provisions.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6501
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 12, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Correction
AN ACT to create a temporary state commission to study and investigate
issues affecting reentry of women released from correctional facili-
ties; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary state commission, to be known as the New York
2 state criminal justice commission on women's reentry (hereinafter
3 "commission"), is hereby created to study issues, including relevant
4 statutes, regulations and existing programs involving women's reentry
5 and re-integration of women who are released from state and local
6 correctional facilities.
7 § 2. The commission shall investigate all factors that impede success-
8 ful re-integration for women. The commission shall analyze the impact of
9 existing policies on successful reentry, identify specific obstacles to
10 re-integration and compare policies of this state to those of other
11 states and the federal government. The commission shall collect data
12 from state and federal agencies and may analyze any current research
13 deemed relevant and appropriate. The commission shall examine issues
14 relating to women's reentry, including, but not limited to, identifying
15 physical and psychological hardships endured while incarcerated that may
16 impede successful reentry, identifying specific services that are neces-
17 sary for successful reentry, identifying current obstacles to women
18 receiving these services, and proposing solutions to remove these obsta-
19 cles. The commission specifically shall examine challenges and gender-
20 responsive solutions in the following areas:
21 a. Physical and mental health care, substance use and trauma;
22 b. Housing;
23 c. Employment and education;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10511-01-3
A. 6501 2
1 d. Family reunification and parental support;
2 e. Domestic violence and sexual violence;
3 f. Access to legal assistance and current legal restrictions that
4 create barriers to successful reentry;
5 g. Integration of corrections, parole, and reentry, including the use
6 of parole and supervision; and coordination with community-based provid-
7 ers.
8 § 3. a. The commission shall consist of eighteen members as follows:
9 three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; three
10 members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two
11 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two
12 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
13 Members so appointed shall include a representative of an organization
14 that advocates for women in the criminal justice system, a represen-
15 tative of a domestic violence advocacy and/or services organization, two
16 representatives from organizations that provides reentry services for
17 women, an attorney with expertise in women's reentry challenges, a
18 representative of an organization that provides mental health services
19 to women, a representative of an organization that provides substance
20 use treatment for women, a representative of an organization that
21 provides employment and education services to women, a professional with
22 experience in women's health issues and women's health issues in jail
23 and prison, and an academic professional that studies the needs of women
24 involved in the criminal justice system. The remaining members shall be
25 the heads of the following departments or agencies or their respective
26 designees: the department of corrections and community supervision, the
27 department of criminal justice services, the office for the prevention
28 of domestic violence, the department of health, the division of housing
29 and community renewal, the department of labor or the department of
30 education, the office of addiction services and supports, and the office
31 of probation and correctional alternatives or the division of parole. No
32 person shall be a member of such commission while such person is a
33 member of the senate or assembly. Any vacancy on such commission shall
34 be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was made. The
35 chairperson of the commission shall be the head or designee of the divi-
36 sion of criminal justice services. The vice-chairperson of the commis-
37 sion shall be a representative of one of the community-based organiza-
38 tions and appointed by the chairperson.
39 b. Except as provided in subdivision a of this section, no member,
40 officer or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding
41 any other public office or employment, nor shall he or she forfeit any
42 such office or employment by reason of his or her appointment hereunder,
43 notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law,
44 ordinance or city charter.
45 § 4. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
46 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
47 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
48 § 5. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
49 as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and fix
50 their compensation within the amounts made available by appropriation
51 therefor.
52 § 6. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission shall be
53 authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
54 analyses it may deem relevant through its own personnel or in cooper-
55 ation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency. Such
56 commission shall meet and hold public hearings or private meetings with-
A. 6501 3
1 in or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a legislative
2 committee pursuant to the legislative law.
3 § 7. The commission may request and shall receive from any court in
4 the state and from any subdivision, department, board, bureau, commis-
5 sion, office, agency or other instrumentality of the state or of any
6 political subdivision thereof such facilities, assistance and data as it
7 deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its powers and
8 duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
9 § 8. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
10 recommendations for legislative action as it may deem necessary and
11 appropriate, to the governor and the legislature no later than eighteen
12 months after this act shall have become a law.
13 § 9. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
14 deemed repealed two years after such date.
