Senate Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee advances nine bills on reentry, notice and college applications

At a meeting of the New York State Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, committee members considered nine bills addressing services and information for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people, notification requirements, and higher-education application questions.

The committee advanced most items to the next step in the legislative process; several votes and committee referrals were recorded on the floor during the session.

Why it matters: These bills affect the information and services available to people in custody and on reentry—covering priority status for trafficking victims seeking assistance, conditional release tied to postsecondary programs, screening for SNAP benefits before release, notification of deaths in custody, and information provided at discharge. Several measures were referred to other committees for further consideration.

S.1645 (priority status for human-trafficking victims): The committee clerk read S.1645, an act amending the Executive Law to provide priority status to victims of human trafficking for receipt of certain assistance. Senator Jamaal Bailey moved the bill; Senator Parkin seconded. The committee recorded the vote and the item was advanced; the clerk stated, “The bill is recorded.”

S.2508 (conditional release for offenders completing postsecondary programs): The clerk read S.2508, an act to amend the Correction Law to allow conditional release for eligible offenders who complete postsecondary degrees or programs. Senator Parkin moved the bill; Senator…