NYAPRS Note: As you’ll see from the just posted article below, the NYS Senate is poised to pass the Clean Slate Bill….but it’s not clear if the Assembly will. Please take a minute to call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s office and urge him to move and pass this critically needed legislation.
Down to the Wire! Urge Assembly Speaker to Move and Pass the Clean Slate Bill!
The Clean Slate Act will address the systemic barriers to jobs, housing and education posed by old conviction records by automatically sealing old conviction records once someone has successfully completed their sentence, is not on community supervision and has not incurred any new charges or convictions after three years for misdemeanors and seven years for felonies.
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It would be life changing for millions of New Yorkers and could be a key element of our economic recovery.
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It would improve community success and safety by allowing all people to access jobs, housing, and other life essentials.
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2.3 million New Yorkers have a conviction record, and because of racism in our criminal legal system, these civil consequences disproportionately impact Black and brown New Yorkers and deepen already-existing racial inequalities in civic life.
Call Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie: 518-455-3791 (or 718-654-6539)
and share/leave the following message:
“I’m (your name) and a registered voter in (your locality) urging you to move
and pass the Clean Slate Act (A.6399C)!”
THANK YOU!
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Clean Slate Bill’s Future Is Down To The Wire, Again
By Anna Gronewold | Politico June 1, 2022
ALBANY, N.Y. — The state Legislature is cutting it close for the second year in a row on a parole reform bill that would seal most criminal records after individuals have completed their sentences.
The Senate on Wednesday was set to pass the so-called Clean Slate legislation on the penultimate day of session scheduled in 2022.
But its fate remains unclear in the Assembly, where revisions are still being considered and it has not yet been scheduled for a committee vote prior to June 2 sine die.
What it does: The bill, if signed into law, would allow for individuals to have their records automatically sealed three years from sentencing for misdemeanors and seven years for felonies, not including time incarcerated. The person could not have any new convictions during the waiting period and would need to complete probation, parole, or post-release supervision.
Sponsors say the time frame allows people with conviction records to move on with their lives, contribute to the economy and obtain housing for themselves and their families. It has been backed by local governments in New York City, Westchester, Albany and Buffalo; a handful of labor unions; the Business Council of New York State; and some major employers, such as Microsoft, Verizon and JPMorgan Chase.
Gov. Kathy Hochul included a version of the bill with longer waiting periods in her executive budget in January, but said in April that it would be an end-of-session issue.
The hold up: The bill was pulled at the end of the session in 2021 after an Assembly committee found a technical error, and there wasn’t enough time to draft a new version.
One year later, the Assembly is still working to address concerns about its implementation as proposed, that chamber’s sponsor, Catalina Cruz (D-Queens) said Wednesday. A new version was introduced over the weekend to clarify some questions from law enforcement and education groups, she said, such as if district attorneys would be able to access some information to conduct certain investigations.
She said it’s ultimately a bill to make sure more than 2 million New Yorkers who have finished their sentences have access to housing and jobs, and she believes Speaker Carl Heastie is on board if enough members signal they are.
“Carl has always been committed to passing Clean Slate,” she told reporters, “but Carl is also the kind of leader that listens to his members, so we are pushing our colleagues who are in support of this to ensure that they are letting Carl know that this is a priority.”