What's happening
The bill allows incarcerated individuals to earn merit time by completing at least 18 credits from a degree-granting higher education institution.
Why it matters
Expands opportunities for incarcerated individuals. by allowing them to earn merit time through higher education, not just traditional vocational or work programs, potentially increasing their motivation to pursue college-level coursework.
Promotes rehabilitation and reentry success. , as evidence shows higher education in prison is linked to reduced recidivism, better post-release employment, and stronger community reintegration outcomes.
Signals a shift in correctional policy. toward recognizing educational achievement (specifically, earning at least 18 college credits) as equally valuable for merit time as other rehabilitative accomplishments like vocational training or substance abuse treatment.
May lead to increased demand for prison education programs. , encouraging more partnerships between correctional facilities and accredited colleges, and potentially influencing funding and resource allocation for such initiatives.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
College Credits Count for Early Release
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to rules
- Delivered to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.190
- Rules report cal.190
- Reported
- Reported referred to rules
- Print number 9543a
- Amend and recommit 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.
College Credits Count for Inmates
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Zellnor Myrie
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9543--A
IN ASSEMBLY
January 24, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. EPSTEIN, SAYEGH, CRUZ, MOSLEY, LAVINE, TAYLOR, DenDEKKER, SIMON, GOTTFRIED, L. ROSENTHAL, JAFFEE, REYES, COOK, BARRON, QUART -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to including credits earned from a higher education institution as a condition on which the merit board may grant merit time
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 803 of the correction law, as added by section 7 of chapter 738 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
(iv) Such merit time allowance may be granted when an inmate successfully participates in the work and treatment program assigned pursuant to section eight hundred five of this article and when such inmate obtains a general equivalency diploma, an alcohol and substance abuse treatment certificate, a vocational trade certificate following at least six months of vocational programming, at least eighteen credits in a program registered by the state education department from a degreegranting higher education institution or performs at least four hundred hours of service as part of a community work crew.
Such allowance shall be withheld for any serious disciplinary infraction or upon a judicial determination that the person, while an inmate, commenced or continued a civil action, proceeding or claim that was found to be frivolous as defined in subdivision (c) of section eight thousand three hundred three-a of the civil practice law and rules, or an order of a federal court pursuant to rule 11 of the federal rules of civil procedure imposing sanctions in an action commenced by a person, while an inmate, against a state agency, officer or employee.
§ 2. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 803 of the correction law, as added by section 10-a of chapter 738 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14733-03-0
A. 9543--A 2
(iv) Such merit time allowance may be granted when an inmate successfully participates in the work and treatment program assigned pursuant to section eight hundred five of this article and when such inmate obtains a general equivalency diploma, an alcohol and substance abuse treatment certificate, a vocational trade certificate following at least six months of vocational programming, at least eighteen credits in a program registered by the state education department from a degreegranting higher education institution or performs at least four hundred hours of service as part of a community work crew.
Such allowance shall be withheld for any serious disciplinary infraction or upon a judicial determination that the person, while an inmate, commenced or continued a civil action, proceeding or claim that was found to be frivolous as defined in subdivision (c) of section eight thousand three hundred three-a of the civil practice law and rules, or an order of a federal court pursuant to rule 11 of the federal rules of civil procedure imposing sanctions in an action commenced by a person, while an inmate, against a state agency, officer or employee.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amendments to subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (d) of subdivision 1 of section 803 of the correction law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such section pursuant to section 74 of chapter 3 of the laws of 1995, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
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.