Senate committee advances 10 corrections-related bills, reporting most to finance

The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, chaired by Senator Salazar, met to consider 10 bills addressing correctional policy, reentry services and victim notifications. The committee moved each bill forward, with most items reported to the finance committee or recorded for subsequent consideration.

The agenda included measures to expand educational leave for eligible incarcerated individuals (S 3-19), require a telephone call before transfers (S 10-50), increase access to substance use programming for non-English speakers (S 16-45), regulate commissary/canteen operations (S 16-92a), establish a reintegration pilot program (S 50-61a), screen for SNAP eligibility prior to release (S 52-65), provide discharge and reentry services for wrongfully convicted individuals (S 57-01), require publication of correctional facility water testing results (S 63-90), revise evidentiary standards for disciplinary hearings (S 67-27), and notify victims about the Address Confidentiality Program (S 86-28).

Senator Salazar opened the meeting and confirmed a quorum, noting that ranking member Senator Rob Lisonbee was at a budget hearing. The committee clerk, Julia Feder, read each bill title. Where recorded in the transcript, motions and seconds were noted: for example, Senator Harcombe moved S 3-19 with Senator Salazar seconding; several bills were moved by Senator Harcombe or Senator Murray and seconded by colleagues including Senators Salazar, Bailey and Hartman. Several votes were explicitly described in the record; Senator Murray is identified as recording a negative vote on at least one item.

Most measures were reported to the finance committee or otherwise recorded for the next step. The committee clerk and chair handled a brief procedural correction near the close of the meeting (noting one item needed to be refiled or redone), then concluded the session.

What the bills would do (brief, committee descriptions): - S 3-19: Amend correction law to provide educational leave for eligible incarcerated people. - S 10-50: Allow an incarcerated individual a telephone call prior to transfer; bill previously passed the Senate. - S 16-45: Increase access to substance use treatment programming for incarcerated people whose first language is not English. - S 16-92a: Amend correction law relating to commissaries/canteens in correctional institutions. - S 50-61a: Establish a reintegration pilot program for individuals leaving correctional facilities. - S 52-65: Screen incarcerated individuals for SNAP eligibility prior to release. - S 57-01: Require the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to establish discharge plans and reentry services for wrongfully convicted individuals. - S 63-90: Require the correctional commissioner to make facility water testing results accessible to incarcerated individuals, staff and the public. - S 67-27: Amend correction law and CPLR on evidentiary standards for disciplinary and evidentiary hearings. - S 86-28: Amend executive law and public health law to provide notification to victims about the Address Confidentiality Program.

The committee recorded each motion and, where recorded, the nay votes. The meeting concluded with the chair saying the bills were reported and that the meeting was adjourned. Next steps for the items reported to finance are committee-level fiscal review and scheduling by the Senate fiscal committee.