Crime Committee Report e.indd - New York State Senate

eason why HUD failed to meet the law’s objective was that HUD failed to ask prospective
residents if they were subject to a lifetime registration requirement and did not require housing
authorities to check the national sex offender registry prior to recertifying the eligibility of
its current residents.
Chapter 256 of the Laws of 2010
S.8317 HASSELL-THOMPSON / A 10061 Aubry
Allows Inmates to Voluntarily Work for Non-Profits
Signed into law by Governor Paterson
Allows prisoners to voluntarily perform work for nonprofit organizations. Non-profit organizations
means an organization operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or educational
purposes, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder
or individual. Prior to this law section 24 of article 3 of the New York State Constitution prohibited
the “farming out, contracting, giving away or selling of convict labor.” However, many
localities had requested that an exemption be made for nonprofit organizations who are often
underfunded and do not have the resources to adequately maintain their property. The law did
permit inmates to work in state and public institutions and many of the nonprofit organizations
engaged in public works and charities. This constitutional amendment was initiated by Senator
Dale Volker during the first required session vote and taken to the finish line by Senator Ruth
Hassell-Thompson, a republican and democratic member respectively. York State and was authorized
by a favorable vote of the electorate. This proposed law was authorized by amendment
to the state constitution.
Chapter 377 of the Laws of 2010
S.8228 HASSELL-THOMPSON & LITTLE / A 10061 Aubry
Expanding Eligibility for Shock Program
Signed into law by Governor Paterson
This legislation would expand eligibility for the Shock Incarceration Program. It would allow
second non-violent offenders with no prior violent felony convictions to become eligible for
the Shock Program. Initial and tentative estimates are that perhaps 200 inmates would actually
be placed in Shock Programs at Moriah and Lakeview. If the inmate fails Shock or violates the
terms and conditions of parole after they are released they will be sent back to prison to finish
the unexpired term of their sentence.
S.5570-A
Chapter 182 of the Laws of 2010
HASSELL-THOMPSON, ONORATO & PARKER / A 8952 Weinstein
Child Support May Be Suspended While In Prison
Signed into law by Governor Paterson
This bill would amend DRL § 236B (9) (b) to separate out the “substantial change of circumstance”
threshold for modification of orders of child support into its own section for the sake
of clarity and would provide two new bases for the modification of an order of child support:
(1) the passage of 3 years since the order was entered, last modified, or adjusted; or (2) a 15%
percent change in either party’s income since the order was entered, last modified or adjusted
provided that any reduction in income was involuntary and the party has made diligent attempts
to secure employment commensurate with his or her education, ability and experience.
The parties may specifically opt out of the two new bases for modification in a validly executed
agreement or stipulation. The section would provide that incarceration would not be a bar to
finding a substantial change in circumstance under certain conditions.
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New York State Senate