What's happening
This bill requires, where practicable, that New York correctional facilities provide inmates with vocational training to install solar hot water systems for cells, rooms, and dormitories lacking hot water.
Why it matters
Creates hands-on job training for inmates. By teaching incarcerated individuals how to install solar hot water systems, the bill aims to equip them with practical, in-demand skills that can improve post-release employment opportunities and reduce recidivism.
Promotes sustainability and cost savings. Encouraging the use of solar hot water systems in correctional facilities can reduce reliance on traditional energy sources, potentially lowering utility costs and the environmental impact of state-run institutions.
Addresses basic living standards in prisons. The bill makes hot water access a priority in correctional housing where it is lacking, potentially improving health, hygiene, and overall conditions for inmates.
Emphasizes implementation only where feasible. The language “to the extent practicable” provides flexibility, recognizing that not all facilities may be able to immediately or fully comply due to structural, financial, or logistical constraints.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Train Inmates in Solar Plumbing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
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.
Add Prison Solar Installation Training
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Nily Rozic
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4309
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 7, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- 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 correction law, in relation to providing vocational training to inmates on the installation of solar hot water systems for the provision of hot water to correctional facilities
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 137 of the correction law, as added by chapter 476 of the laws of 1970, is amended to read as follows:
4. Whenever there shall be a sufficient number of cells or rooms in a correctional facility, each inmate shall be given sleeping accommodations in a separate cell or room, provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed so as to limit the right of the department to utilize dormitory-type accommodations where necessary or where appropriate to a program of treatment. To the extent practicable, such cells, rooms and dormitories shall be plumbed to provide inmates hot water.
§ 2. Subdivision 2 of section 171 of the correction law, as amended by chapter 364 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
2. Such labor shall be either for the purpose of the production of supplies for said institutions, or for the state, or any political subdivision thereof, or for any public institution owned or managed and controlled by the state, or any political subdivision thereof; or for the purpose of industrial training and instruction, or partly for one, and partly for the other of such purposes. Where practicable, inmates shall be provided vocational training to install solar hot water systems to provide hot water to cells, rooms and dormitories lacking in such amenity pursuant to subdivision four of section one hundred thirty-seven of this chapter.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00978-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to providing vocational training to inmates on the installation of solar hot water systems for the provision of hot water to correctional facili- ties
Purpose
To provide practical and vocational training to inmates and inexpensive, environmentally sustainable hot water in prison living units in compli- ance with the American Correctional Association standards.
Summary of provisions
Section I of the bill amends section 137 of the correction law to provide that, where it is practical, inmate cells, dorms and rooms should be plumbed to provide hot water to wash basins.
Section II of the bill amends section 171 of the correction law to state that, where it is practical, inmate vocational training programs shall be established to provide solar-powered hot water in facilities lacking running hot water in cells, dorms and rooms where inmates are housed.
Section III sets forth the effective date.
Justification
When a convicted person is released from prison, he or she should be able to obtain employment and lead a law-abiding, productive life. This bill would encourage the Department of Corrections to provide a voca- tional program in which inmates would learn to install solar-powered hot water systems. Solar-powered hot water has been successfully provided at Wallkill Correctional Facility and in other correctional facilities throughout the country.
Most of the 22,000 prisoners who live in prison cells do not have running hot water in their sinks, nor do some of the remaining 23,000 inmates who live in dorms and rooms. Newer prisons have hot water plumbed to where inmates are housed, but most of the older prisons rely on inmate labor to manually distribute buckets of hot water to inmates in their cells. Attica, Auburn, Sing Sing, Clinton, and other older facilities house thousands of inmates in cold water cells. This bill would provide vocational training that could result in future employ- ment. The use of renewable energy sources would not only reduce green- house emissions, but also save the state money by lowering the energy costs of facilities.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal impact on state
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect six months after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.