What's happening
The bill requires New York prisons to improve access to substance abuse programs for prisoners whose first language is not English.
Why it matters
Addresses a critical gap in rehabilitation. by ensuring that non-English speaking prisoners can access, understand, and complete substance abuse programs—potentially reducing recidivism and improving reentry outcomes.
Mandates proactive measures. , such as hiring more bilingual counselors, translating program materials, and developing targeted programs, which could make treatment more effective for a linguistically diverse prison population.
Recognizes the importance of equity in correctional programming. , ensuring that language barriers do not prevent incarcerated individuals from receiving essential support for substance abuse issues, which could have broader public health and safety benefits.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Drug Help in Spanish
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to correction
- Referred to correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
More Drug Help for Inmates
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Jamaal Bailey
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3192
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to increasing access to substance abuse programming for prisoners whose first language is not English
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 625 to read as follows:
§ 625. Access to substance abuse programming for certain prisoners. The commissioner shall take steps to ensure that prisoners whose first language is not English are able to understand, participate and complete substance abuse programs provided in the prisons. Such steps may include, but need not be limited to, increased employment of bilingual substance abuse counselors and program staff, translation of program content and materials, targeted programs for non-English speaking prisoners and other strategies determined by the commissioner in consultation with the commissioner of alcoholism and substance abuse services.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07803-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.