BILL NUMBER: S8448
SPONSOR: WALCZYK
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the correction law, in relation to increasing the
reimbursement amount authorized to be paid to localities maintaining
incarcerated individuals convicted of felonies
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require New York State to reimburse counties at a higher
rate for "state-ready" incarcerated individuals that are held in local
jails.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends section 601-c of the correction law to require New
York State to reimburse counties up to either $300 per day for each
"state-ready" incarcerated individuals it houses or the actual cost of
housing them, whichever is more, for the first ten days local jails
holds them. After ten days, that reimbursement increases to $600 per day
or the actual cost of housing them, whichever is more.
Section 2: Provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
"State-ready" incarcerated individuals are inmates who are required to
go to state prisons, but have not yet been picked up by the state.
Section 601-c of the correction law allows counties to be reimbursed up
to $100 per day for holding these inmates. However, cost increases and a
delay in pickups means that counties are hemorrhaging money on this
front. In St. Lawrence County, this has resulted in a loss of over
$300,000. This bill would increase that $100 reimbursement, which has
been stagnant since 1995, to $300 per day per inmate for the first ten
days they are held or the actual cost of holding them, whichever is
more. After ten days, that number increases to $600 per day per inmate
or the actual cost, whichever is more. This legislation will give much
needed financial relief to counties holding these individuals, while at
the same time incentivizing the state to quickly move these people to
state correctional facilities.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Increased cost to New York State for reimbursement, which currently
falls on counties. Therefore, New York State could see a cost increase
in excess of $200 million per year. On a similar note, counties would
see a cost savings of over $200 million per year.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

Statutes affected:
S8448: 601-c correction law