What's happening
This bill establishes a parole board nomination commission to recommend candidates for the New York State Board of Parole, changing the appointment process.
Why it matters
Introduces a formal, multi-member commission—representing both majority and minority legislative leaders, and requiring expertise in judicial reform/social justice—to recommend candidates for the Board of Parole, which could diversify and professionalize the selection process.
Limits the governor’s appointment choices to a slate of 3–7 vetted candidates per vacancy, potentially reducing political patronage and increasing transparency in parole board appointments.
Creates a process for filling vacancies within 45 days, with the commission playing a key role, which could help maintain the board’s functionality and prevent prolonged vacancies that might delay parole decisions.
Allows for temporary appointments when the Senate is not in session, ensuring the parole board remains fully staffed and operational, which can be critical for timely parole hearings and the criminal justice system’s efficiency.
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Who cares
Governor’s office
The bill would require advice from a new nomination commission on parole board appointments and require midterm vacancies to be filled within 45 days.
Senate and Assembly leaders
Legislative leaders would appoint six of the commission’s eleven members, while the Senate would retain confirmation authority over parole board appointments.
Judicial reform and social justice professionals
Four commission seats would be reserved for individuals with careers in judicial reform and social justice.
Prospective parole board members
Candidates would face commission searches and screenings, with three to seven recommendations submitted to the governor for each vacancy.
Headline styles
Create Parole Board Nominating Commission
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 32
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1740
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SEPULVEDA -- 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 executive law, in relation to the establishment of a parole board nomination commission
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 259-b of the executive law, as amended by section 38-a of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be in the department a state board of parole which shall possess the powers and duties hereinafter specified. The board shall function independently of the department regarding all of its decision-making functions, as well as any other powers and duties specified in this article, provided, however, that administrative matters of general applicability within the department shall be applicable to the board. Such board shall consist of not more than nineteen members appointed by the governor with the [advice and] consent of the senate, and after April first, two thousand twenty, with the advice of the parole board nomination commission established in section two hundred fifty-nine-bb of this article. The term of office of each member of such board shall be for six years; provided, however, that any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of term shall be appointed within forty-five days of such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term of the member whom he is to succeed. In the event of the inability to act of any member, the governor may appoint some competent informed person to act in his stead during the continuance of such disability.
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 259-bb to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05634-01-9
S. 1740 2
§ 259-bb. Parole board nomination commission. 1. No later than April first, two thousand twenty, a parole board nomination commission shall be established.
2. Such board shall consist of eleven members to be appointed in the following manner:
(a) five shall be appointed by the governor, two of which shall be individuals with a career in judicial reform and social justice;
(b) two shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one of which shall be an individual with a career in judicial reform and social justice;
(c) two shall be appointed by the majority leader of the senate, one of which shall be an individual with a career in judicial reform and social justice;
(d) one shall be appointed by the minority leader in the assembly; and
(e) one shall be appointed by the minority leader in the senate.
3. The board shall conduct searches and screenings for potential candidates to fill open seats on the state board of parole. Such commission shall provide the governor with no less than three and no more than seven candidate recommendations to fill each vacancy on the board.
4. If the senate is not in session at the time a board nominee is to be confirmed, the governor is given full authority to name a nominee of the commission as a temporary board member until the senate reconvenes and confirms such acting board member.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the establishment of a parole board nomination commission
Purpose
Provides an establishment of a commission on parole board nominations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 1 of section 259-b of the executive law so forth after April first, two thousand twenty, with the advice of the parole board nomination commission established in section 259-b, the board will consist of no more than nineteen members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of the term shall be appointed with forty-five days of such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 2 amends the executive law by adding a new section 259-bb in which the parole board commission shall be established no later than April first, two thousand and twenty. The board shall consist of eleven members to be appointed in the following manner: five shall be appointed by the governor, two of which shall be individuals with a career in judicial reform and social justice; two shall be appointed by the speak- er of the assembly, one of which shall be an individual with a career in judicial reform and social justice; two shall be appointed by the major- ity leader of the senate, one of which shall be an individual with a career in judicial reform and social justice; one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and one shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The board shall conduct searches and screenings for potential candidates to fill open seats on the state board of parole. Such commission shall provide the governor with no less than three and no more than seven candidate recommendations to fill each vacancy on the board. If the senate is not in session at the time a board nominee is to be confirmed, the governor is given full authority to name a nominee of the commission as a temporary board member until the senate reconvenes and confirms such acting board member.
Section 3 states the act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
There are many signs that show that the Parole board needs to broaden its range of expertise. This bill provides for the creation of a parole nominating board to advance names to the governor for appointment.
The board shall conduct searches and screenings for potential candidates to fill open seats on the state board of parole. Such commission shall provide the governor with no less than three and no more than seven candidate recommendations to fill each vacancy on the board. Any member chosen to fill a vacancy occurring otherwise than by expiration of the term shall be appointed within forty-five days of such vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
The board has been understaffed for a long time. The way that parole hearings are held shows that commissioners do not spend much time on each case, often reading the file for the first time the day of the hearing. That is why there are so many complaints from inmates saying that what they say in these hearings does not even matter. If there are more commissioners and vacancies are filled quickly, more consideration can be given to each inmate's application.
Legislative history
2018: referred to crime, crime victims and corrections
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.