NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2530
SPONSOR: Barron TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a
commission on improving education in state prisons
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would amend the correction law by adding a new section that
establishes a commission on improving prison education.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of adds a new section 49 to the correction law. This section
states that there is hereby established a commission on prison education
comprised of nine members who shall study and develop a Plan for improv-
ing education in the state prison system. The commission shall consider
and investigate the following factors when determining education
improvements: the impact on inmate's employment opportunities upon
release from prison, the impact on an inmate's reintegration into socie-
ty and the effectiveness in reducing recidivism.
Appointments to the task force shall be made as follows: three by the
governor; two by the speaker of the assembly; one by the minority leader
of the assembly; two by the temporary president of the senate and one by
the minority leader. of the senate.
The commission shall issue a report within ten months after the effec-
tive date of this paragraph.
Section 2 this act shall take effect immediately.
JUSTIFICATION:
Rehabilitation of inmate's at prisons is more than simple punishment; it
should involve a, strong education curriculum to ensure that rehabili-
tated inmates do not resort to crime when they are released. Released
inmates often have difficulty finding jobs as convicted felons. The lack
of quality education in prisons helps contribute to the recidivism of
some inmates. This commission is charged with defining the skills that
will help inmates return to society as a more productive citizen.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015-16: S.2520/A.5973 Corrections-Referred to Crime Victims, Crime, and
2013-14: S.2782/A.1107 Corrections-Referred to Crime Victims, Crime, and
2011-12: S.6702/A.2315 Corrections-Referred to Crime Victims, Crime, and
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2530
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARRON, VANEL, CAHILL, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, HYND-
MAN, TAYLOR, COLTON, DE LA ROSA, WILLIAMS, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. COOK, DAVILA, GOTTFRIED, JEAN-PIERRE, NOLAN, PEOPLES-
STOKES, PICHARDO, SIMON, WALKER -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a
commission on improving education in state prisons
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 49 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 49. Commission on prison education. There is hereby established a
4 commission on prison education comprised of nine members who shall study
5 and develop a plan for improving education in the state prison system.
6 The commission on prison education shall consider and investigate the
7 following factors when determining education improvements: the impact on
8 an inmate's employment opportunities upon release from prison, the
9 impact on an inmate's reintegration into society and the effectiveness
10 in reducing recidivism. Appointments to the task force shall be made as
11 follows: three by the governor; two by the speaker of the assembly; one
12 by the minority leader of the assembly; two by the temporary president
13 of the senate and one by the minority leader of the senate. The commis-
14 sion on prison education shall issue a report within ten months after
15 the effective date of this section.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00309-01-1
