S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8965
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 31, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. SEPTIMO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Codes
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive  law,  in  relation  to  establishing  the
   office  of  reentry  services  within the division of criminal justice
   services
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "recidivism reduction act".
   § 2. The executive law is amended by adding a  new  section  837-x  to
 read as follows:
   §  837-X.  OFFICE  OF REENTRY SERVICES. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
 WITHIN THE DIVISION AN OFFICE OF REENTRY SERVICES TO FACILITATE SUCCESS-
 FUL REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY BY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.
   (A) AS USED IN THIS  SECTION,  THE  FOLLOWING  TERMS  SHALL  HAVE  THE
 FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   (I) "OFFICE" SHALL MEAN THE OFFICE OF REENTRY SERVICES; AND
   (II)  "INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUAL"  SHALL  MEAN  A  PERSON  ELIGIBLE FOR
 RELEASE FROM A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY,  AS
 DEFINED BY SECTION TWO OF THE CORRECTION LAW; AND
   (B)  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  SUCH  OFFICE  SHALL BE A DIRECTOR
 APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER. SUCH DIRECTOR:
   (I) SHALL EXERCISE ALL POWERS VESTED IN THE OFFICE;
   (II) MAY DELEGATE ANY FUNCTION, POWER, OR DUTY ASSIGNED TO THE  OFFICE
 TO AN EMPLOYEE OF SUCH OFFICE;
   (III)  MAY  REQUEST  AND  RECEIVE  FROM  ANY DEPARTMENT, AGENCY OF THE
 STATE, OR PUBLIC AUTHORITY SUCH ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION AND DATA AS WILL
 ENABLE THE OFFICE TO  PROPERLY  CARRY  OUT  ITS  FUNCTIONS,  POWERS  AND
 DUTIES; AND
   (IV)  MAY  HIRE  AND  DISMISS EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE FOR CAUSE AND IN
 ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW.
   (C) SUCH OFFICE'S PRINCIPAL OFFICE SHALL BE IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
   2.  THE  OFFICE  SHALL  ESTABLISH,  PROMOTE,  AND  ADMINISTER  REENTRY
 PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.
   (A)  SUCH  OFFICE  MAY  ENTER  INTO  AGREEMENTS WITH ANY PERSON, FIRM,
 CORPORATION, MUNICIPALITY, OR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY AS MAY BE NECESSARY OR
 
              

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00225-01-3
 A. 8965                             2
 
 CONVENIENT TO CARRY OUT THE FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES EXPRESSLY  SET
 FORTH IN THIS SECTION.
   (B)  SUCH  OFFICE  SHALL PROVIDE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS WITH REENTRY
 ASSISTANCE THAT INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED  TO,  ESTABLISHING  REENTRY
 PROGRAMS  INSIDE  CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILI-
 TIES AND PROVIDING ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING FOR PUBLIC BENEFITS, REFERRALS
 TO MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICE PROVIDERS,
 CONNECTIONS TO  EMPLOYMENT  OPPORTUNITIES  AND  JOB  TRAINING  PROGRAMS,
 ASSISTANCE  IN  FINDING  STABLE  HOUSING  OPTIONS  TO  BE AVAILABLE UPON
 RELEASE, AND GENERAL SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THAT MAY BE  HELPFUL  FOR  AN
 INDIVIDUAL REINTEGRATING INTO THE COMMUNITY. SUCH OFFICES SHALL:
   (I) SCREEN EACH INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL WITHIN SEVEN DAYS OF THE START
 OF  THEIR  SENTENCE TO COLLECT FROM SUCH INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION CONCERN-
 ING:
   (1) THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S MEDICAL NEEDS,  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
 LIMITED  TO,  MEDICAL  CONDITIONS,  MEDICATIONS, MENTAL HEALTH CARE, AND
 DISABILITIES; AND
   (2) THE INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S LEVEL OF  EDUCATION  AND  JOB  READ-
 INESS;
   (II) ENSURE THAT A REENTRY PREPARATION CASEWORKER IS AVAILABLE TO MEET
 WITH  INCARCERATED  INDIVIDUALS  FOR IN-PERSON REENTRY PREPARATION MEET-
 INGS.  SUCH CASEWORKER SHALL MEET WITH AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL:
   (1) WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S ADMISSION TO  A
 CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR LOCAL CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO CREATE A REENTRY
 PLAN  IN COLLABORATION WITH SUCH INDIVIDUAL AND CONNECT THEM WITH AVAIL-
 ABLE ON-SITE REENTRY SERVICES AND PROGRAMS;
   (2) WHEN AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL ELECTS TO MEET WITH  A  CASEWORKER
 FOR  REENTRY COUNSELING AND SUPPORT RELATED TO SUCH INDIVIDUAL'S REENTRY
 PREPARATIONS; AND
   (3) AT LEAST SIX MONTHS BEFORE AN INCARCERATED INDIVIDUAL'S  SCHEDULED
 RELEASE  TO  CONNECT THEM WITH SUPPORT IN OBTAINING HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT,
 HEALTHCARE, AND OTHER SUPPORT DESIGNED TO FACILITATE  SUCH  INDIVIDUAL'S
 SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO THE COMMUNITY;
   (III)  MAKE  REENTRY  ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
 FOR THE DURATION OF THEIR CONFINEMENT  IN  A  CORRECTIONAL  FACILITY  OR
 LOCAL  CORRECTIONAL  FACILITY  AND UP TO THREE YEARS AFTER THE DATE SUCH
 INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED; AND
   (IV) ENSURE THAT INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS HAVE TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR
 RESIDENCE WITHIN THE STATE ON THE DAY SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE RELEASED.
   (C) SUCH OFFICE SHALL  CREATE  AND  MAINTAIN  A  PUBLIC  DIRECTORY  OF
 REENTRY  SUPPORT  SERVICES  PROVIDED BY THE STATE, MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN
 THE STATE, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,  AND  COMMUNITY  ORGANIZATIONS.  SUCH
 DIRECTORY SHALL BE:
   (I) ELECTRONICALLY AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC; AND
   (II) PROVIDED IN PRINTED FORM TO INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS AT LEAST SIX
 MONTHS BEFORE SUCH INDIVIDUALS ARE SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED.
   (D)  SUCH  OFFICE SHALL TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO ENSURE THAT INCAR-
 CERATED INDIVIDUALS HAVE ACCESS TO STATE,  FEDERAL,  OR  PRIVATE  HEALTH
 INSURERS, INCLUDING MEDICAID AND MEDICARE, UPON RELEASE.
   §  3.  The  annual  budget  submitted by the governor shall separately
 state the recommended appropriations for the office of reentry services.
 Upon enactment, these separately stated appropriations  for  the  office
 shall  not  be  decreased  by  interchange with any other appropriation,
 notwithstanding the state finance law.
   § 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.