BILL NUMBER: S2575

SPONSOR: HELMING
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the correction law, in relation to the commissioner of
the department of corrections and community supervision's power to
permanently terminate the conjugal visit program, referred to as the
family reunion program

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation would eliminate conjugal visits in New York State
correctional facilities by removing the power of the Commissioner of
Corrections to regulate the Family Reunion Program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends section 146 of the correction law.

Section 2: Establishes an effective date.

              

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the 2010 New York State budget, then Governor Paterson proposed
$800,000 for conjugal visit trailers at Five Points Correctional Facili-
ty. The State of New York cannot reward its most hardened criminals -
criminals who have committed violent and serious crimes with conjugal
visits.

During these difficult economic times, we must critically examine every
taxpayer dollar that New York State spends in order to find areas for
potential savings. The Family Reunion Program is a costly and unneces-
sary prisoner luxury that New York can no longer afford in this diffi-
cult budget year. There is surely a greater need for this funding else-
where to maintain critical services for our families and seniors or to
provide much needed property tax relief for homeowners.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2019-2020: S.1344 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
2017-2018: S.2574 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
2016-2015: S.4301 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
2014-2013: S.5413 referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
2012-2011:S S.3747 passed Senate/A.8478 referred to Correction

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect November first next succeeding the date on
which it shall have become a law and shall apply to actions and
proceedings commenced on and after such date.