BILL NUMBER: S181
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to who may visit local
correctional facilities
 
PURPOSE:
This bill closes a loophole in the Correction Law to allow the accompa-
nying staff of members of the Legislature to visit local correctional
facilities.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends Section 500-J of the Correction Law to authorize the
accompanying staff of members of the Legislature and members of the
local elected legislative body and their staff to visit local correc-
tional facilities.
Section 2 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In 2019, New York enacted a law that allowed staff of members of the
Legislature to accompany them into State correctional facilities.
Senators and Assembly Members are very often accompanied by their staff
during the course of their duties. Unfortunately, the 2019 law excluded
local correctional facilities and, consequently, local officials have
denied accompanying staff of State elected officials from visiting such
facilities. This bill closes that glaring loophole. This bill also
authorizes elected members of the local legislative body and their
accompanying staff to visit local correctional facilities.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: S.9580 - Referred to Rules
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S181: 500-j correction law