BILL NUMBER: S1643A
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing a job
fair pilot program
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 would amend Section 201 of the Correction Law to require the
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision establish job fair
pilot programs in the New York City and Wende correctional facility hubs
that shall be held at least three times per year. Provides for guide-
lines surrounding the operation of the job fairs. Requires that the
commissioner conduct evaluations of the program annually and a summary
evaluation at the conclusion of the pilot program. Requires a report
relating to recidivism within three years of the conclusion of the pilot
program.
Section 2 would provide for the effective date.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
The amended version of this bill requires rules and regulations relating
to safety during the prescribed job fairs and makes clarifying changes.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
"According to the New York City Justice Corps created by Mayor Bloomberg
in 2006, 60 to 75% of people on parole remain unemployed a year after
release from prison. Upstate has, a higher incarceration rate, and sends
slightly more people to prison, than New York City and its suburbs, and
has fewer employment opportunities and rehabilitative programs for
ex-felons, exacerbating the unemployment problem for formerly incarcer-
ated people when compared to the city. The Council on Criminal Justice
found that stable employment decreases recidivism by about 60% compared
to marginal employment. People leaving prison need to find work but are
generally unprepared for the job market and face serious barriers to
employment because of their criminal history.
This bill creates a pilot job fair program in two prisons, one upstate
near Buffalo, and the other in Westchester, requiring DOCCS to work with
the Department of Labor to locate potential employers to attend job
fairs, and to help incarcerated individuals close to release write
resumes and search for employment. DOCCS will issue annual reports on
the efficacy of the job fairs and will do a three-year follow up study
on recidivism among the group of people attending the job fairs."
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2025 - A2132 (Woerner) / S1643 (Cleare): Referred to Correction
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule
or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effec-
tive date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
effective date.

Statutes affected:
S1643: 201 correction law
S1643A: 201 correction law