S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6501
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 12, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. GONZALEZ-ROJAS -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Correction
 
 AN ACT to create a temporary state commission to study  and  investigate
   issues  affecting  reentry of women released from correctional facili-
   ties; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon  expiration
   thereof

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. A temporary state commission, to be known as the  New  York
 state  criminal  justice  commission  on  women's  reentry  (hereinafter
 "commission"), is hereby created to  study  issues,  including  relevant
 statutes,  regulations  and  existing programs involving women's reentry
 and re-integration of women  who  are  released  from  state  and  local
 correctional facilities.
   § 2. The commission shall investigate all factors that impede success-
 ful re-integration for women. The commission shall analyze the impact of
 existing  policies on successful reentry, identify specific obstacles to
 re-integration and compare policies of this  state  to  those  of  other
 states  and  the  federal  government. The commission shall collect data
 from state and federal agencies and may  analyze  any  current  research
 deemed  relevant  and  appropriate.  The commission shall examine issues
 relating to women's reentry, including, but not limited to,  identifying
 physical and psychological hardships endured while incarcerated that may
 impede successful reentry, identifying specific services that are neces-
 sary  for  successful  reentry,  identifying  current obstacles to women
 receiving these services, and proposing solutions to remove these obsta-
 cles. The commission specifically shall examine challenges  and  gender-
 responsive solutions in the following areas:
   a. Physical and mental health care, substance use and trauma;
   b. Housing;
   c. Employment and education;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD10511-01-3
              

 A. 6501                             2
 
   d. Family reunification and parental support;
   e. Domestic violence and sexual violence;
   f.  Access  to  legal  assistance  and current legal restrictions that
 create barriers to successful reentry;
   g. Integration of corrections, parole, and reentry, including the  use
 of parole and supervision; and coordination with community-based provid-
 ers.
   §  3.  a. The commission shall consist of eighteen members as follows:
 three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the  assembly;  three
 members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; two
 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two
 members  shall  be  appointed  by  the  minority leader of the assembly.
 Members so appointed shall include a representative of  an  organization
 that  advocates  for  women  in the criminal justice system, a represen-
 tative of a domestic violence advocacy and/or services organization, two
 representatives from organizations that provides  reentry  services  for
 women,  an  attorney  with  expertise  in  women's reentry challenges, a
 representative of an organization that provides mental  health  services
 to  women,  a  representative of an organization that provides substance
 use treatment for  women,  a  representative  of  an  organization  that
 provides employment and education services to women, a professional with
 experience  in  women's  health issues and women's health issues in jail
 and prison, and an academic professional that studies the needs of women
 involved in the criminal justice system. The remaining members shall  be
 the  heads  of the following departments or agencies or their respective
 designees: the department of corrections and community supervision,  the
 department  of  criminal justice services, the office for the prevention
 of domestic violence, the department of health, the division of  housing
 and  community  renewal,  the  department  of labor or the department of
 education, the office of addiction services and supports, and the office
 of probation and correctional alternatives or the division of parole. No
 person shall be a member of such  commission  while  such  person  is  a
 member  of  the senate or assembly. Any vacancy on such commission shall
 be filled in the same manner as the original appointment was  made.  The
 chairperson of the commission shall be the head or designee of the divi-
 sion  of  criminal justice services. The vice-chairperson of the commis-
 sion shall be a representative of one of the  community-based  organiza-
 tions and appointed by the chairperson.
   b.  Except  as  provided  in subdivision a of this section, no member,
 officer or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding
 any other public office or employment, nor shall he or she  forfeit  any
 such office or employment by reason of his or her appointment hereunder,
 notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  any general, special or local law,
 ordinance or city charter.
   § 4. The members of the commission shall receive no  compensation  for
 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
   §  5.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
 as it may deem necessary for the performance of its  functions  and  fix
 their  compensation  within  the amounts made available by appropriation
 therefor.
   § 6. For the accomplishment of its purposes, the commission  shall  be
 authorized and empowered to undertake any studies, inquiries, surveys or
 analyses  it  may  deem relevant through its own personnel or in cooper-
 ation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency. Such
 commission shall meet and hold public hearings or private meetings with-
 A. 6501                             3
 
 in or without the state, and shall have all the powers of a  legislative
 committee pursuant to the legislative law.
   §  7.  The  commission may request and shall receive from any court in
 the state and from any subdivision, department, board,  bureau,  commis-
 sion,  office,  agency  or  other instrumentality of the state or of any
 political subdivision thereof such facilities, assistance and data as it
 deems necessary or desirable for the proper execution of its powers  and
 duties and to effectuate the purposes set forth in this act.
   § 8. The commission shall make a report of its findings, including any
 recommendations  for  legislative  action  as  it may deem necessary and
 appropriate, to the governor and the legislature no later than  eighteen
 months after this act shall have become a law.
   §  9.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed two years after such date.