What to Expect From the State Legislature This Session: Criminal Justice Reforms, Changes to the Parole System and Regulations on Police

What to Expect From the State Legislature This Session: Criminal Justice Reforms, Changes to the Parole System and Regulations on Police

4.20.2021

By Adriel Colón-Casiano

After extended budget negotiations, the Legislature is back in Albany to return to a more regular legislative activity and consider several bills related to criminal justice reform.

Bills under consideration include reforms to New York’s parole system, additional regulations on police officers and a ban on the use of chemical agents against minors. During this session, the legislature will review bills, introduce new legislation, and work it through the committee process. NYSBA’s Department of Governmental Relations will frequently meet with stakeholders, monitor legislative activity and issue memoranda commenting on legislation.

NYSBA is seeking introduction of legislation that will clarify that the governor tolled statutory periods under Executive Order 202 during the initial days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are advancing a legislative package resulting from the report from the Task Force on Rural Justice. Additionally,  NYSBA has engaged stakeholders in support of a bill to repeal Judiciary Law 470, which currently prohibits attorneys from practicing law in New York State if they do not maintain a physical office within the state.

The Department of Governmental Relations continues to work on a wide variety of other issues on behalf of the actions and committees of the Association. If you are curious about a specific proposal, please feel free to reach out to Adriel Colon-Casiano, Assistant Director of Governmental Relations, or Cheyenne Burke, Governmental Relations Associate.