BILL NUMBER: S6643A
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law and the state finance law, in
relation to providing for money upon release for certain incarcerated
individuals; and making an appropriation therefor
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
The purpose of the bill is to provide people being released from state
correctional facilities the resources needed to reestablish themselves
by giving a stipend to purchase food, clothes, housing, transportation,
and anything necessary to secure employment in the first six months
post-release.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends the correction law by adding a new section 12 to
establish the "Gate Money Program," define eligibility as those being
released from a state correctional facility after at least six months
who have never received money from this program, sets the minimum and
maximum amounts someone can receive from the program which are to be
adjusted for inflation, and gives the Commissioner of the Department of
Corrections and Community Supervision the authority to promulgate rules
and regulations to establish the program.
Section 2: Amends the state finance law by adding a new section 99-rr to
establish the "Gate Money Fund" in the custody of the NYS Comptroller
and Commissioner of Tax and Finance and makes the fund available to the
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for stipends pursu-
ant to the new Section 12 of the correction law.
Section 3: Appropriates twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) to the
Gate Money Fund from the general fund.
Section 4: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Nearly 11,000 people will reenter society from New York's prisons this
year. Experts often say the first 72 hours after release are critical to
determining whether a former incarcerated individual's path will lead
away from prison or make a sharp U-turn. Nearly 50% of returning New
Yorkers will face housing instability. More than 33% will struggle to
find even part-time employment. Around 50% of New Yorkers are reincar-
cerated within three years of release.
Currently, state law only requires people being released to receive
forty dollars ($40) taken from their commissary account, a bus ticket,
and seasonally appropriate clothing, which must be cheaper than sixty-
five dollars ($65) if provided by the facility. With those $40 dollars,
people are expected to find approved housing, feed themselves, meet with
their Parole Officer within 24 hours (if applicable), secure employment,
and comply with any special conditions.
The Gate Money Program will help address these issues with reentry by
providing people released from state correctional facilities with up to
$2,550 over six months, with the first month's stipend being due imme-
diately upon release, to help cover fundamental needs such as food,
housing costs, court-related debts, and preparation for employment.
Crucially, these funds will no longer be deducted from the individual's
commissary account, as is currently the practice.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
$25,000,000 appropriated from the state's general fund to the Gate Money
Fund
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.

Statutes affected:
S6643: 125 correction law, 125(2) correction law