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
Where the candidates stand: Key economic issues in the Buffalo mayoral race
On Thursday, May 1, the BNP hosted a Democratic Mayoral Candidate Forum. For the first time since 2006, the City of Buffalo is electing a new mayor. The office has drawn considerable interest, leading to a crowded field of candidates running in the June 24 primary election. To help BNP members meet the candidates and learn where they stand on the issues facing our regional economy, the BNP invited the top three fundraising candidates to participate.
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.