NY A07586

Establishes a temporary 17-member New York state commission to investigate and make recommendations on reducing prison population and violent crime, with members appointed by the governor (9), temporary president of the senate (3), senate minority leader (1), speaker of assembly (3), and assembly minority leader (1).

Commission shall investigate methods to reduce New York prison population including sentencing reform, mandatory sentence reduction, racial inequities, drug policy impacts, post-incarceration barriers to employment and housing, and bail reform.

Commission shall examine strategies to reduce violent crime including community policing, police training and body cameras, gun control measures, education and job training for at-risk populations, gang violence prevention, and racial profiling reduction.

Commission members receive no compensation but are reimbursed for necessary expenses; commission may employ staff and conduct public and private hearings, studies, and request data from state courts and agencies.

Commission must submit findings and legislative recommendations to the governor, senate president, and assembly speaker, with report made public online by December 1, 2022.