BILL NUMBER: S6181
SPONSOR: PARKER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the cannabis law, in relation to employment at certain
licensees for the purposes of parole conditions
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to allow persons currently required to be
employed as a condition of parole, probation, or other state supervision
to fulfill employment requirements through employment at a licensed
cannabis business.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. amends subdivision 6 of section 127- of the cannabis law to
renumber subdivision 6 as 6a and add a new subdivision 6b which clari-
fies that employment at a licensed cannabis facility may fulfill an
employment requirement for people currently under parole, probation, or
other state supervision.
Section 2. sets that this act shall take effect immediately.
 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
N/A
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York promoted social equity as a key component of the cannabis
legalization effort, especially as a remedy to the failed War on Drugs.
Some people on parole, probation, or other state supervision have
reported being denied working at licensed cannabis businesses by their
Parole Officer. By allowing people. on parole, probation, or other state
supervision to be denied the right to work at these facilities, the
state is reneging on its aspirations to promote social equity by ignor-
ing a key group. People should be able to apply for and work at licensed
cannabis businesses regardless of their criminal justice status. As with
Ban the Box and Clean Slate, where business groups supported the poli-
cies to address worker shortages without lowering standards, cannabis
businesses have also expressed support for clarifying this issue to
widen their candidate pool.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: S8683A- referred to economic development
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
N/A
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately

Statutes affected:
S6181: 127 cannabis law, 127(6) cannabis law