S3369-2013 Actions

• Feb 1, 2013: REFERRED TO CRIME VICTIMS, CRIME AND CORRECTION

S3369-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S3369

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the correction law, in relation to
assuring rehabilitation programs for female inmates equivalent to
programs afforded male inmates

PURPOSE OF BILL:  To extend to the female inmate population, anywhere in
the State, the same opportunity to participate in programs of rehabili-
tation that are afforded to the male inmate population, thereby increas-
ing the skills available to these women, while incarcerated, for which
they may train to seek employment upon their release.

EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER:  Adds new � 114 to
the Correction Law.

JUSTIFICATION:  There is a disparity in the types and numbers of voca-
tional and industrial Programs and classes accessible to women inmates
during their incarceration as compared to those accessible to male
inmates.  Far fewer vocational programs are offered in state correction-
al facilities for women as compared to men and the ones offered include
traditionally female occupations. Far fewer industrial training shops
are offered in female facilities as compared to male facilities/ Where
programs are available in women facilities, there are long wait lists
such that those signed up may be released without having an opportunity
to gain the skills they signed up for. Women are now entering non-tradi-
tional occupations in great numbers, such as construction and building
maintenance. Such work can be a major route out of poverty and help end
recidivism for women, inasmuch as the wages for such work are greater
than wages earned by women in traditionally female occupations. Many of
the vocational and industrial programs offered to men train them to work
in these occupations upon release. without the appropriate skills, women
will have more difficulty competing for those jobs upon their release
from incarceration, This legislation will help ensure that relevant
programs providing marketable skills and training designed to assist
inmates obtain stable and gainful employment upon release are also
available to incarcerated women.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2009: S.5993/A.4809-A (Weinstein) - Vetoed Memo 79
2008: A.3126 - Passed Assembly 2007: A.3126 - Passed Assembly 2008-06:
A.8173 - Passed the Assembly 2004: A.4302 - Assembly Calendar 2003:
A.4302 - Assembly Calendar 2002: A.4434 - Rules Committee 2001: A.4434 -
Assembly Calendar 2000: A.3631 - Rules Committee 1999: A.3631 -
Corrections Committee 1997-98: A.3889 - Corrections Committee 1996:
A.2336 - Corrections Committee 1995: A.2336 - Ways and Means Committee
1994: A.3518 - Corrections Committee 1993: A.3518 - Ways and Means
Committee 1991-92: A.2718 - Ways and Means Committee 1989-90: A.5728 -
Ways and Means Committee 1987-88: A.3493 - Corrections Committee 1985-
86: A.2944 - Corrections Committee

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:  None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the 60th day after it
shall have become a law.

S3369-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         3369
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 February 1, 2013
 
 Introduced  by Sens. HASSELL-THOMPSON, KRUEGER, MONTGOMERY -- read twice
 and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee
 on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
 

AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation  to  assuring  rehabili
 tation  programs  for  female  inmates equivalent to programs afforded
 male inmates
 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section  1.  The correction law is amended by adding a new section 114
 to read as follows:

 

S 114. REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN.  THE DEPARTMENT  SHALL  TAKE
 STEPS  TO  ENSURE,  TO  THE GREATEST EXTENT PRACTICABLE WITHIN AVAILABLE
 APPROPRIATIONS, THAT  PROGRAMS  OF  REHABILITATION,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT
 LIMITED  TO VOCATIONAL, ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRIAL PROGRAMS, IN ALL CORREC
 TIONAL FACILITIES IN WHICH WOMEN ARE DETAINED  ARE  COMPARABLE  TO  SUCH
 PROGRAMS  PROVIDED TO MALE INMATES AND ARE DESIGNED TO ASSIST INMATES TO
 OBTAIN STABLE AND GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT UPON RELEASE.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth  day  after  it  shall
 have  become  a  law;  provided  that  the  commissioner of correctional
 services is authorized to promulgate any and all rules  and  regulations
 and  take  any  other  measures necessary to implement the provisions of
 this act on its effective date on or before such effective date.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD06409-01-3

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