BILL NUMBER: S5038
SPONSOR: SEPULVEDA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to establishing an
optional retirement stipend for certain incarcerated individuals over
sixty-two years of age
 
PURPOSE:
To establish a retirement program for incarcerated individuals once they
reach the age of 62 and have served at least five years of their
sentences.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends correction law section 187 by adding a new section
five.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
By DOCCS rules, elderly incarcerated individuals typically have to keep
working and participating in programs even if they are well past retire-
ment age. Older individuals tend to be more isolated than younger pris-
oners and have less family support, so they often do not have outside
income sources or anyone to send them packages, making them totally
reliant on the income they receive from their jobs in the prisons in
order to make commissary purchases. Older prisoners should be able to
buy basic necessities without having to work until they are completely
incapacitated. People who are not incarcerated are eligible for social
security and can begin receiving their retirement benefits at the age of
62. People in prison should have the same benefit, even if drastically
reduced.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S.4307 of 2023-2024; Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and Correction;
S. 7001 of 2021-22: New Bill, Referred to Crime Victims, Crime and
Correction
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S5038: 187 correction law