Bill A1636 Summary

• Replaces two existing certificates ("certificate of good conduct" and "certificate of relief from disabilities") with a single "certificate of restoration" throughout New York State law.

• Courts must issue certificates of restoration at sentencing to eligible offenders unless issuance would jeopardize public safety; if denied at sentencing, courts must issue them after one year for revocable sentences or one year after release from incarceration for definite sentences.

• Department of Corrections and Community Supervision must issue certificates to incarcerated offenders who earned merit time or earned eligibility certificates; other incarcerated offenders receive certificates from the Board of Parole after two years of unrevoked supervision unless public safety is jeopardized.

• Removes the blanket prohibition preventing certificates from applying to public office eligibility and expands who qualifies as an "eligible offender" by eliminating the prior restriction limiting it to those convicted of no more than one felony.

• Updates all references across multiple New York laws (tax law, alcoholic beverage control law, penal law, vehicle and traffic law, etc.) to use the new certificate of restoration terminology; prior certificates issued before the effective date remain valid.