10.22.21 Advocacy Alert: Hochul Signs Parolee Employment Legislation
Blog Categories
October 22, 2021
Today, Governor Kathy Hochul signed S.2803/A.5707 into law. This legislation reduces barriers to employment for formerly incarcerated individuals.
Curfews are commonly included in probation or conditional discharge sentences. These restrictions can prevent the formerly incarcerated from working second- and third-shift jobs, limiting their job prospects.
This is one of many barriers to employment for parolees. 27.3% of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed, and employment is associated with reduced recidivism.
This legislation addresses the curfew problem by providing that “performance of bona fide work for an employer, including travel time” shall not be considered a violation of a probation or conditional discharge sentence. Effectively, this means parolees can work during their curfew times.
The BNP supported this legislation. This legislation can help employers address workforce shortages and reduces barriers to successful reentry.
Related Posts
Empowering Young Professionals to step into advocacy
How does business advocacy actually work? And why should young professionals take interest?
Those were the driving questions behind Be The Change, a high-energy informational event hosted by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Young Professionals (YP) group. Held at The Establishment, this members-only session gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at how business advocacy shapes the regional economy, and how emerging leaders can play a role in that impact.
CEOs Speak: A cautious rise in optimism
At our recent CEOs Speak event—the only forum in Buffalo Niagara showcasing the results from the annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey—local leaders delivered a powerful message: optimism is cautiously rising, but government intervention remains a persistent obstacle to regional economic growth.
Legislative priorities: BNP’s reaction to the Executive Budget
On February 14, we set the stage for critical discussions about the future of New York State’s economy by convening regional business leaders and policymakers, along with BNP members, at the 1970 Club in KeyBank Center for our Legislative Luncheon.
2025 Advocacy Agenda: Shaping the future
On Jan 9, our signature Government Affairs event unveiled the strategies and priorities that will guide our work this year with policymakers.