What's happening
This bill requires that state parole board members and hearing officers be geographically distributed in proportion to inmate populations by county.
Why it matters
Aims to address regional representation and fairness. by requiring that both parole board members and hearing officers live in counties in proportion to where the state’s incarcerated population comes from, potentially making decisions more reflective of impacted communities.
Could shift the geographic makeup of parole decision-makers,. reducing dominance by officials from a few counties and ensuring voices from counties with higher incarceration rates are better represented in parole processes.
May influence parole outcomes. by bringing in perspectives and experiences from a broader array of communities, possibly affecting how parole is granted or denied and increasing perceived legitimacy of the process among families and advocates.
Impacts future appointments only,. meaning the change will be gradual, affecting only new or reappointed board members and hearing officers after the law takes effect, not current officials.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Make Parole Board Reflect Counties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and 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.
Parole Board Must Reflect Counties
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor N. Nick Perry
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3148
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 4, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MYRIE -- 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 composition of the state board of parole and parole hearing officers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 259-b of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-a. With respect to members appointed or reappointed on and after the effective date of this subdivision, the state board of parole shall be so constituted that the proportion of the members residing in any county of the state shall be reasonably equivalent and in the same proportion as the resident county of the inmate population bears to the total population of the state.
§ 2. Section 259-d of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. With respect to members appointed or reappointed on and after the effective date of this subdivision, the state board of parole shall be so constituted that the proportion of the hearing officers residing in any county of the state shall be reasonably equivalent and in the same proportion as the resident county of the inmate population bears to the total population of the state.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02410-01-9
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 composition of the state board of parole and parole hearing officers
Purpose
To make the composition of the parole board and parole hearing officers geographically representative of the state's prison population.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill adds subdivision 2-a to § 259-b of the executive law which requires that members of the parole board appointed or reap- pointed on and after the effective date of this subdivision be so constituted that the proportion of the members residing in any county of the state shall be reasonably equivalent and in the same proportion as the resident county of the inmate population bears to the total popu- lation of the state.
Section two of the bill adds subdivision 3 to 5 259-d of the executive law which requires that hearing officers appointed or reappointed on and after the effective date of this subdivision be so constituted that the proportion of the members residing in any county of the state shall be reasonably equivalent and in the same proportion as the resident county of the inmate population bears to the total population of the state.
Section three of the bill provides the effective date.
Justification
More than 75% of the New York State's prison population originates from major urban areas of the state. When released, a majority will return to their county of origin. Therefore, those who are instrumental in deter- mining parole should understand and identify with the particular concerns of the inmate's community or origin and return.This bill would require members of the board of parole and parole hearing officers to be representative of the county that the inmate population bears to the total population of the state.
Legislative history
2017-2018: A.244 - Referred to Codes; Referenced to Corrections 2016: A.6500 - Referred to Corrections 2015: A.6500 - Referred to Codes 2014: A.4697 - Referred to Corrections 2013: A.4697 - Referred to Codes 2012: A.3211 - Referred to Corrections 2011: A.3211 - Referred to Codes 2009-2010: A.3521 - Referred to Codes 2007-2008: A.4106/S.2113 - Referred to Codes / Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2005-2006: A.3802/S.1499 - Referred to Codes/Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2003-2004: A.7216/S.2275 - Referred to Codes/Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2001-2002: A.2632/S.1635 - Referred to Codes/Crime Victims, Crime and Correction 2000: A.11342/S.7279 - Referred to Codes/Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Sixty days after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.