What's happening
This bill allows certain immigrants with non-violent convictions to receive confidential consultation and assistance in seeking executive clemency.
Why it matters
Expands Support for Rehabilitation and Reintegration. By providing confidential consultation and assistance with clemency petitions, the bill helps non-violent immigrant offenders seek relief from the collateral consequences of their convictions, such as deportation, supporting their potential for rehabilitation and community reintegration.
Protects Privacy and Builds Trust. The strict confidentiality requirements ensure that personally identifiable information shared during the clemency process cannot be disclosed without consent, which is crucial for encouraging immigrants to seek help without fear of exposure or negative immigration consequences.
Targets a Vulnerable Population. The bill specifically focuses on immigrants with non-violent or less serious convictions, who are often at risk of deportation but may otherwise be contributing members of their communities. This targeted support recognizes their unique vulnerabilities and aims to address gaps in legal and social services.
Institutionalizes Access to Legal Relief. By making the Office for New Americans responsible for providing or arranging this assistance, the bill embeds clemency support within state operations, potentially leading to more systematic and equitable access to executive relief for eligible immigrants.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Immigrants Seek Clemency
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8037
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 25, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to providing certain immigrants with confidential consultation and assistance on potential petitions for executive clemency
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (m) and (n) of subdivision 5 of section 94-b of the executive law, as added by chapter 206 of the laws of 2014, are amended to read as follows:
(m) Encourage and assist local governments in the development of activities to enhance civic engagement among immigrants and in immigrant communities; [and]
(n) Provide or arrange for confidential consultation with an immigrant who has a prior conviction for one or more offenses or crimes, other than violent crimes or other crimes of a serious nature that might justify deportation of such individual, on the potential availability of executive clemency pursuant to article two-A of this chapter, and provide or arrange for assistance with the filing of petitions therefor; and
(o) Beginning in two thousand fifteen, by June fifteenth of each year, produce a report to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, and the temporary president of the senate describing the activities of the office, including but not limited to, summarizing calls received through the hotline and website, information on ESOL training services provided by the office, the number of immigrants assisted through the opportunity centers, or an estimation thereof, the status of any workforce development programs, and any other relevant information.
§ 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, unless disclosure is required by lawful court order, no personally-identifiable information obtained by the Office for New Americans or any agent thereof for the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11807-01-7
A. 8037 2
purpose of confidential consultation and assistance related to a potential petition for executive clemency shall be disclosed to any other person or entity without the consent of the individual to whom such information pertains.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.