S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2619
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 20, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. PERRY -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Correction
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to the composition of the
   state board of parole
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, 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]
 THAT  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 applica-
 ble  to  the  board.  Such board shall consist of not more than nineteen
 members AND NOT LESS THAN FIFTEEN MEMBERS appointed by the governor with
 the advice and consent of  the  senate  AND  IN  CONSULTATION  WITH  THE
 CORRECTIONAL  ASSOCIATION  OF  NEW  YORK.  IN MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO THE
 BOARD, THE GOVERNOR SHALL ENSURE THAT THE  MEMBERSHIP  SHALL  ADEQUATELY
 REFLECT  THE COMPOSITION OF THE PRISON POPULATION IN RACE AND ETHNICITY,
 AGE, AND GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF RESIDENCE. THE PERCENTAGE OF EACH DEMOGRAPH-
 IC CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MEMBERS SHALL BE DIRECTLY PROPORTIONATE TO THAT
 OF THE PRISON  POPULATION.  ADDITIONALLY,  AT  LEAST  ONE-THIRD  OF  THE
 MEMBERS  SHALL  HAVE  BEEN PREVIOUSLY EMPLOYED IN THE FIELDS OF PRISONER
 REENTRY OR SOCIAL WORK, EACH WITH A MINIMUM OF FIVE YEARS OF  EXPERIENCE
 IN  THEIR  RESPECTIVE FIELDS.  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, IN THE MANNER SPECIFIED ABOVE, for the  remainder  of  the
 unexpired  term of the member whom he OR SHE is to succeed. In the event
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD08387-01-7

 A. 2619                             2
 
 of the inability to act of any member, the  governor  may  appoint  some
 competent  informed person to act in his OR HER stead during the contin-
 uance of such disability.
   § 2. The state board of parole as constituted on the effective date of
 this  section  is hereby abolished as of January 1, 2018. Members of the
 state board of parole as  constituted  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of
 subdivision  1  of  section  259-b  of  the executive law, as amended by
 section one of this act, shall be appointed  by  the  appropriate  state
 official prior to January 1, 2018, so that such board may be fully oper-
 ative on and after such date.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.