What's happening
This bill expands pre-release access to benefits and support services for individuals leaving correctional facilities, establishes reentry programs, and reforms housing policies for people with criminal records.
Why it matters
Earlier Access to Benefits. By allowing incarcerated individuals to apply for public assistance (like safety net assistance and state supplemental payments) before their release, the bill aims to reduce gaps in income and support that often lead to homelessness, recidivism, or other hardships immediately after reentry.
Support for Successful Reentry. The establishment of in-facility and post-release support services—including help with benefit applications, mental health care, job readiness, and housing—targets the root causes of re-offending and aims to improve community safety and stability.
Fairer Housing Access. The bill requires public housing authorities to reform their policies regarding individuals with criminal records, ensuring that housing decisions are based on specific risks rather than blanket bans, and prohibiting the use of arrest records—potentially reducing homelessness and supporting family reunification.
Pilot Program and Accountability. By creating a five-year reintegration pilot in select facilities and mandating annual reports on outcomes, the bill not only tests comprehensive reentry strategies but also creates a feedback loop for policy improvement, emphasizing data-driven decision-making to reduce recidivism.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Support for People Leaving Prison
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to rules
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.
Support for Released Prisoners
In Assembly Committee · Correction · Sponsor Andrew Hevesi
Full text
4 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8689
IN SENATE
July 8, 2020
Introduced by Sen. BENJAMIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the social services law, the correction law and the public housing law, in relation to programs, supports and services for individuals being released from state and local correctional facilities; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 158 of the social services law, as amended by section 44 of part B of chapter 436 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
4. (a) Social services officials shall determine eligibility for safety net assistance within forty-five days of receiving an application for safety net assistance. Such officials shall notify applicants of safety net assistance about the availability of assistance to meet emergency circumstances or to prevent eviction.
(b) When a local social services district is identified as the district of residence for an individual being released from a state or local correctional facility, such district shall accept an application for safety net assistance forty-five days prior to such individual's earliest expected release date.
§ 2. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 209 of the social services law, as amended by section 4 of part E of chapter 57 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(iv) is a resident of the state and is either a citizen of the United States or is not an alien who is or would be ineligible for federal supplemental security income benefits solely by reason of alien status. Provided however, an individual incarcerated in a state or local correctional facility, with the intention of residing in the state of New York upon their release, shall be eligible to apply for state supplemental payments at least ninety days prior to their earliest expected release date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD16789-01-0
S. 8689 2
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 112 of the correction law, as amended by section 19 of subpart A of part C of chapter 62 of the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
2. The commissioner shall have the management and control of persons released on community supervision and of all matters relating to such persons' effective reentry into the community, as well as all contracts and fiscal concerns thereof. The commissioner shall have the power and it shall be his or her duty to inquire into all matters connected with said community supervision. The commissioner shall make such rules and regulations, not in conflict with the statutes of this state, for the governance of the officers and other employees of the department assigned to said community supervision, and in regard to the duties to be performed by them, as he or she deems proper and shall cause such rules and regulations to be furnished to each employee assigned to perform community supervision. The commissioner shall also prescribe a system of accounts and records to be kept, which shall be uniform. The commissioner shall also make rules and regulations for a record of photographs and other means of identifying each inmate released to community supervision. The commissioner shall appoint officers and other employees of the department who are assigned to perform community supervision. Each incarcerated individual shall be eligible to apply for safety net assistance, supplemental security income and state supplemental payments prior to their earliest expected release date in accordance with section one hundred fifty-eight of the social services law, 42 USC § 1383 and section two hundred nine of the social services law, respectively. The department shall provide assistance in completing and filing such applications and may contract with not-for-profit providers with experience assisting individuals during the application and appeals processes of such benefits to provide incarcerated individuals with assistance completing applications for such benefits.
§ 4. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 500-q to read as follows:
§ 500-q. Reentry services. Each incarcerated individual shall be eligible to apply for safety net assistance, supplemental security income and state supplemental payments prior to their earliest expected release date in accordance with section one hundred fifty-eight of the social services law, 42 USC § 1383 and section two hundred nine of the social services law, respectively. The chief administrative officer or other person in charge of a local correctional facility shall provide assistance in completing and filing such applications and may contract with not-for-profit providers with experience assisting individuals during the application and appeals processes for such benefits to provide incarcerated individuals with assistance in completing applications for such benefits.
§ 5. The public housing law is amended by adding a new section 223-c to read as follows:
§ 223-c. Housing policies regarding persons with criminal records. All authorities shall create policies regarding the eligibility of persons with criminal convictions that conform with Title 42, § 13661 of the United States Code and any relevant guidance developed by the Office of Public and Indian Housing of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. Such policy shall: (a) not contain a one-strike rule unless required by federal law or regulation; (b) prohibit the use of arrest records when making a housing decision; (c) only use criminal records in housing decisions if required by federal law or regulation; and (d) provide for admission or reintegration of all persons with crim-
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inal records unless such admission or reintegration was prohibited by another state or federal law, or if the public housing authority determines with particularity that the person would adversely affect the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents, the owner, or public housing agency employees. If an authority already has such policy, it shall be amended to meet the requirements of this section. For the purposes of this section, a "housing decision" shall include any decision regarding admission, eviction, access to assistance, or termination of assistance. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require an authority to admit, provide assistance, or not evict a person with a criminal conviction if the authority determines with particularity that the person would adversely affect the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of the premises by other residents, the owner, or public housing agency employees.
§ 6. The correction law is amended by adding a new section 71-b to read as follows:
§ 71-b. Reintegration pilot program. 1. The department, in collaboration with the office of temporary and disability assistance, the office of mental health and the office of addiction services and supports shall establish and conduct a five year reintegration pilot program to help ensure incarcerated individuals within the correctional facilities receive the supports and services necessary to meaningfully prepare for their release while still incarcerated, assist individuals to reintegrate into the community upon release and reduce recidivism. Such pilot program shall be conducted in three correctional facilities, one female and two male facilities, selected by the department, taking into consideration adequate geographic distribution within the state as well as availability of sufficient links to supports and services required by this section. For purposes of this pilot program, there shall be at least one hundred incarcerated individuals who on a voluntary basis request placement in the pilot program. Upon admission to the program, each incarcerated individual shall receive an in-depth screening and assessment to determine their specific needs as relating to, including but not limited to, mental health and substance use disorder services, educational needs and job readiness. In addition to an in-depth screening and assessment, participants in the pilot program shall also be linked with not-for-profit organizations and peer to peer engagement opportunities to assist with the individual's reintegration planning. This shall occur no less than ninety days prior to their expected release date and shall consist of, but not be limited to, assistance applying for public benefits, referrals and links to mental health and/or substance use disorder service providers if applicable, connections to employment opportunities as well as job training programs if appropriate, assistance finding available stable housing options to be available upon release and general supports and services that may be helpful for an individual reintegrating back into the community.
2. Upon release from the correctional facility, individuals will continue to receive supports and services, as needed, for an additional six months, to ensure the individual's successful reintegration into the community. Such services shall include, but not be limited to, connecting individuals to health and behavioral health services, as appropriate, assistance ensuring compliance with any parole or court mandated activities, connections to employment opportunities based on their skills identified while incarcerated and assistance acquiring stable affordable housing. The collaborating agencies shall contract with not-
S. 8689 4
for-profit providers to effectuate the requirements specified in this section.
3. The commissioner, in consultation with appropriate community organizations, shall submit within one year of the effective date of this section, and annually thereafter, a report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly on the effectiveness of this pilot program. Such reports shall include an analysis of the outcomes of the pilot program and recommendations for continued efforts to meaningfully prepare incarcerated individuals for their release while still incarcerated, assist individuals to reintegrate into the community upon release and reduce recidivism. Such information provided in the report shall include, but not be limited to, information on the types of convictions of incarcerated individuals participating in the pilot program; the specific types of services that were provided while incarcerated as well as upon release; the outcomes and effectiveness, to the extent it is known, of such services provided; whether participants in the pilot program were able to find stable affordable housing and/or employment during their participation in the pilot program and any barriers that may have contributed to their inability to find housing and/or employment; and any other information or factors that were identified that may have created barriers to an individual's reintegration once released and the additional services that may alleviate those barriers.
4. No person shall have the right to demand or require participation in the pilot program authorized by this section.
5. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the department to hold an incarcerated individual in confinement beyond their earliest release date.
§ 7. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed six years after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the social services law, the correction law and the public housing law, in relation to programs, supports and services for individuals being released from state and local correctional facilities; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would ensure individuals being released from state and local correctional facilities receive the appropriate supports and services needed to reintegrate into the community prior to and upon release.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill would ensure that local social services districts accept safety net assistance applications from an individual being released from a state or local correctional facility forty-five days prior to such individual's earliest expected release date.
Read the full memo (1,127 words)
Section two of the bill would ensure that incarcerated individuals in a state or local correctional facility, with the intention of residing in the state of New York will upon their release, shall be eligible to apply for state supplemental payments at least ninety days prior to their earliest expected release date.
Section three of the bill would ensure that individuals released on community supervision are eligible to apply for safety net assistance, supplemental security income and state supplemental payments prior to their earliest expected release date and that the department shall provide assistance in completing and filing such applications or contract with not-for-profit providers to do so.
Section four of the bill would establish reentry services including ensuring each incarcerated individual is eligible to apply for safety net assistance, supplemental security income and state supplemental payments prior to their earliest expected release date.
Section five would establish housing policies regarding eligibility for individuals with criminal records.
Section six would establish the reintegration pilot program to help ensure incarcerated individuals within the correctional facilities receive the supports and services necessary to meaningfully prepare for their release while still incarcerated, assist individuals to reinte- grate into the community upon release, and reduce recidivism.
Section seven would establish the effective date.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
N/A
Justification
According to 2014 numbers, 9,300 formerly incarcerated individuals were released from state prison to New York City, few of whom were referred to, or directly connected to, supportive services as part of their release plan.ò In fact, 23% of the time, they went straight to homeless shelters that have well-documented poor conditions, including crime and drug use.. This problem has only been exacerbated over the last few years. In 2017, released individuals were heading straight to shelters 54% of the time.. This has been dubbed the "prison-to-shelter pipeline."
The funneling of recently-released individuals into shelters without the necessary resources, or without action plans for how to move from a shelter into more stabilized living and housing, creates a vicious cycle. It is one in which formerly incarcerated people are bounced among a maze of shelters and often thrust back out onto the street in the morning without any direction. In fact, New York City estimated that there were 3,900 homeless New Yorkers living outside the shelters in 2018, a 40% jump in street homelessness compared to the year prior.. Shelters are no longer doing what they their name implies. Under these shelter conditions, these individuals are much more likely to recidi- vate, not giving them the chance to break the cycle of incarceration, while incurring additional governmental costs.
While the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funds for the nation's homeless housing programs, a newly-re- leased individual does not meet HUD's definition of "homeless". S/he is instead consigned to sleep on the street or in a shelter before qualify- ing as "street homeless" and potentially being eligible for a New York housing voucher. New York City's initiatives to build 15,000 permanent supportive housing units and reserve 15% of new publicly-funded develop- ments for the homeless will similarly be out of reach for every homeless person released from prison because they are restricted to people who are chronically homeless.. This exclusion will include some of New York's most vulnerable homeless people, such as the elderly or individ- uals suffering from physical or mental disabilities.
This bill takes the critical first steps of assisting recently released individuals by linking them with nonprofit service providers who can help them apply for safety net assistance 45 days prior to release. It will additionally establish a pilot program that links these individuals with nonprofits after release, to provide them with comprehensive screening and referral for services including treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, housing, educational services, employment assistance and hard skills training.
These screening and referral programs have been piloted in the Fortune Society's discharge planning programs at Rikers Island as well as in a partnership between New York City's Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the Fortune Society at the three main men's assessment shel- ters in NYC (Bellevue, BRC McGuinness and Schwartz). The end goal is to provide guidance and service options that mirror client choice, meet their most pressing needs and instill hope rather than despair (which often leads to recidivism).
This legislation will also provide linkages to required parole-mandated programming, working with the individual to prioritize required mandates alongside his or her personal goals upon release. Finally, the bill would ensure that housing discrimination is not possible based solely on
a past criminal record, in order to break the prison-to-shelter pipe- line.
There is research to support these types of programs. A pilot program in Ohio, with supportive housing alongside wrap-around services pilot called "Returning Home Ohio," found that participants were 60% less likely to be re-incarcerated when they participated in the program. Likewise, a 2016 evaluation of NYCHA's Family Reentry Program pilot phase found that of the 85 participants, 41 found or kept a job, 11 attended employment training, 12 were receiving training toward certif- ications, 12 were attending school, and 15 were in substance use treat- ment programs., In addition, at the time the study, no participant had been convicted of a new offense. Providing housing assistance is less costly than emergency shelters, increases public safety, and allows individuals to successfully reintegrate into society
The current prison-to-shelter pipeline creates a system that is unsafe, costly, and detrimental to good public policy. This legislation is crit- ical in providing a roadmap, as well as the necessary tools to fix a fundamentally broken system, and the vicious prison-shelter-prison cycle which is detrimental to all New Yorkers.
Prior legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law and shall expire and be deemed repealed six years after such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.