What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of state funds to provide post-secondary courses to inmates in New York state prisons.
Why it matters
Curtails rehabilitation opportunities. By blocking state funding for college-level courses in prisons, the bill could significantly reduce access to education that research shows helps lower recidivism rates and supports inmates’ successful reentry into society.
Shifts priorities in public spending. The bill frames the issue as prioritizing resources for "kids before cons," so it may spark debate about how New York allocates educational funding and whether investments in inmate education detract from other public priorities.
Potential long-term costs. Limiting educational programs for inmates could lead to higher rates of reoffending, which may result in greater long-term expenses for the justice system and taxpayers due to increased incarceration and related social costs.
Impacts on equity and social mobility. Many inmates come from disadvantaged backgrounds with limited access to education; this bill may further entrench barriers to upward mobility and reduce the potential for personal transformation during incarceration.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Prison College Funding
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Held for consideration in higher education
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4093
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT in relation to prohibiting state funds from being used to provide post-secondary courses in state prisons
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "New York State Kids Before Cons Act."
§ 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no state funds shall be used to provide or assist in providing a post-secondary course to an inmate in a state prison.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04106-01-9
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.