Bill Text: NY S08740 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 8740 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Prohibits the commissioner of corrections and community supervision from promulgating policy to require inmates to waive religious rights in order to participate in inmate programs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-10-07 - signed chap.211 [S08740 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-S08740-Introduced.html




                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          8740

                    IN SENATE

                                      July 13, 2020
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  LIU  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules

        AN ACT to amend the correction  law,  in  relation  to  prohibiting  the
          commissioner  of corrections and community supervision from promulgat-
          ing policy to require inmates to waive religious rights  in  order  to
          participate in inmate programs

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Section 112 of the correction law is amended  by  adding  a
     2  new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
     3    5. (a) The commissioner shall not make or promulgate any policy and/or
     4  regulation  requiring an inmate to waive any religious right, including,
     5  but not limited to, daily prayer as a condition for participation in any
     6  inmate program including any such program developed  and/or  implemented
     7  pursuant  to subdivision four of this section including, but not limited
     8  to, the shock program and the industrial training program.
     9    (b) Upon request, inmates shall be granted exemptions for  activities,
    10  including   jobs,   that  coincide  with  the  Sabbath  and  other  work
    11  proscription days, including those set forth in the religious calendar.
    12    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.





         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD14894-01-0