Prohibits the commissioner of corrections and community supervision from promulgating policy to require inmates to waive religious rights in order to participate in inmate programs.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
8740
IN SENATE
July 13, 2020
___________
Introduced by Sen. LIU -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting the
commissioner of corrections and community supervision from promulgat-
ing policy to require inmates to waive religious rights in order to
participate in inmate programs
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 112 of the correction law is amended by adding a
2 new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
3 5. (a) The commissioner shall not make or promulgate any policy and/or
4 regulation requiring an inmate to waive any religious right, including,
5 but not limited to, daily prayer as a condition for participation in any
6 inmate program including any such program developed and/or implemented
7 pursuant to subdivision four of this section including, but not limited
8 to, the shock program and the industrial training program.
9 (b) Upon request, inmates shall be granted exemptions for activities,
10 including jobs, that coincide with the Sabbath and other work
11 proscription days, including those set forth in the religious calendar.
12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14894-01-0
