BILL NUMBER: S7310
SPONSOR: STEC
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act providing for a grace period in which former employees of the
department of corrections and community supervision that participated in
a strike may return to work; and providing for the repeal of such
provisions upon expiration thereof
 
PURPOSE:
To permit the reinstatement of former state Department of Corrections
and Community Supervision employees who were terminated due to the work
stoppage, which began on Feb. 18, 2025.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 -The bill would permit the reinstatement of former state
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision employees who were
terminated due to the work stoppage, which began on Feb. 18, 2025, with-
out disciplinary penalty. It would also allow any former employee who
resigned during the strike shall be eligible for reinstatement.
Section 2 - It would bar the premature recall between Feb. 18 and July
1, 2025 of former employees on pre-approved leave, such as medical,
workers compensation and paid parental leave.
Section 3 -- Provides effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The recent termination of about 2,000 DOCCS employees in the wake of the
work stoppage, which commenced on Feb. 18, 2025, significantly exacer-
bated the longstanding staffing crisis at prisons operated by the state
Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.
It would take at least five years to replace 2,000 correction officers
through the state academy process. Meanwhile, the state is spending an
estimated $100 million a month on the National Guard members who have
been tapped to fill in the ranks, according to the state Budget Divi-
sion.
This legislation would save the state significant money by cutting the
additional expense required for the National Guard presence in state
prisons. It would also serve to fill out the ranks with trained COs who
could immediately return to work.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
A savings to the state.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and expire on July 1, 2025.