New York A 6477: Establishes the recidivism reduction act, which creates the office of reentry services

Bill Text

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A06477 Summary:

BILL NOA06477 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORSeptimo

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COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §837-y, Exec L

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Establishes the recidivism reduction act, which creates the office of reentry services within the division of criminal justice services.

Go to top A06477 Actions:

BILL NOA06477 

&nbsp

03/05/2025referred to codes

01/07/2026referred to codes

Go to topA06477 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA06477 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA06477 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6477

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 March 5, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. SEPTIMO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
 tee on Codes

 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing the
 office of reentry services within the division of criminal justice
 services

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 2 the "recidivism reduction act".
 3 § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 837-y to
 4 read as follows:
 5 § 837-y. Office of reentry services. 1. There is hereby established
 6 within the division an office of reentry services to facilitate success-
 7 ful reintegration into the community by incarcerated individuals.
 8 (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the
 9 following meanings:
 10 (i) "office" shall mean the office of reentry services; and
 11 (ii) "incarcerated individual" shall mean a person eligible for
 12 release from a correctional facility or local correctional facility, as
 13 defined by section two of the correction law; and
 14 (b) The head of the office of such office shall be a director
 15 appointed by the commissioner. Such director:
 16 (i) shall exercise all powers vested in the office;
 17 (ii) may delegate any function, power, or duty assigned to the office
 18 to an employee of such office;
 19 (iii) may request and receive from any department, agency of the
 20 state, or public authority such assistance, information and data as will
 21 enable the office to properly carry out its functions, powers and
 22 duties; and
 23 (iv) may hire and dismiss employees of the office for cause and in
 24 accordance with state law.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD07003-01-5

 A. 6477 2

 1 (c) Such office's principal office shall be in the county of Albany.
 2 2. The office shall establish, promote, and administer reentry
 3 programs in the state.
 4 (a) Such office may enter into agreements with any person, firm,
 5 corporation, municipality, or governmental agency as may be necessary or
 6 convenient to carry out the functions, powers, and duties expressly set
 7 forth in this section.
 8 (b) Such office shall provide incarcerated individuals with reentry
 9 assistance that includes, but is not limited to, establishing reentry
 10 programs inside correctional facilities and local correctional facili-
 11 ties and providing assistance in applying for public benefits, referrals
 12 to mental health providers and substance use disorder service providers,
 13 connections to employment opportunities and job training programs,
 14 assistance in finding stable housing options to be available upon
 15 release, and general supports and services that may be helpful for an
 16 individual reintegrating into the community. Such offices shall:
 17 (i) screen each incarcerated individual within seven days of the start
 18 of their sentence to collect from such individual information concern-
 19 ing:
 20 (1) the incarcerated individual's medical needs, including, but not
 21 limited to, medical conditions, medications, mental health care, and
 22 disabilities; and
 23 (2) the incarcerated individual's level of education and job read-
 24 iness;
 25 (ii) ensure that a reentry preparation caseworker is available to meet
 26 with incarcerated individuals for in-person reentry preparation meet-
 27 ings. Such caseworker shall meet with an incarcerated individual:
 28 (1) within thirty days of an incarcerated individual's admission to