Legislation to Monitor in the Last Week of Legislative Session
New York Legislature in Final Stretch: Medical Aid in Dying Act, Prison Reforms, and Packaging Reduction on the Table
As the New York state Assembly and Senate approach the end of their session, several high-profile bills are being closely watched. Among them are the Medical Aid in Dying Act, prison reforms, and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
The Medical Aid in Dying Act, which would allow terminally ill patients with six months or less to live to self-administer lethal medication prescribed by physicians, has already been passed by both the Assembly and Senate. Governor Kathy Hochul has not yet stated her position on the bill, although it is expected to reach her desk next week. If signed, New York would become the 12th or 13th state to authorize medical aid in dying.
Prison reforms are also a key focus for lawmakers. The budget appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 include targeted funding to expand evidence-based cognitive behavioral programs in county jails and improve gender-responsive programming. Additionally, $130,000 has been allocated to enhance collaboration between the Department of Corrections and the parole board to reduce delays in parole releases.
The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, aimed at reducing plastic packaging in the state by 30% over the next 12 years, has not yet been introduced as a specific bill this session. However, environmental advocates are pushing for its passage.
The Robert Brooks Blueprint for Justice and Reform, unveiled by the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus, includes nearly two dozen bills focused on transparency and accountability in state prisons. The bill would require more corrections officers to wear body cameras, create a Correctional Ombudsman Office, and permit the corrections commissioner to discipline corrections officers directly in serious cases.
The state Senate is also considering prison and parole reforms, including measures to expand the authority of the Correctional Association of New York, an independent body with oversight over prisons. The opposition to these bills has been strong, with the Business Council of New York State, the plastics industry, the Teamsters, and big businesses, including fossil fuel companies, voicing their concerns.
The New York state Senate is expected to approve the Medical Aid in Dying Act for the first time, allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives with a doctor's assistance. Lawmakers are racing to get as many of their priorities done before the session's finish, as they may have to wait another six months to try again (barring a special session later to address federal spending cuts). The Assembly has added a few extra days to complete its work, with the final voting expected on Tuesday of next week. The state Senate is set to finish on Thursday, with final voting expected to bleed into Friday.
[1] Medical Aid in Dying Act Passes New York State Legislature [2] New York Budget Includes Funding for Jail Programs and Parole Reforms [3] New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act: What You Need to Know [4] New York State Senate to Vote on Medical Aid in Dying Act [5] New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act: Key Provisions and Controversies [6] New York State Legislature Considers Prison and Parole Reforms [7] New York State Legislature Considers Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act [8] New York State Senate to Approve Medical Aid in Dying Act [9] Opposition to New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act Grows [10] New York State Legislature Considers Robert Brooks Blueprint for Justice and Reform [11] New York Lawmakers Race to Pass Key Bills Before Session's End [12] New York State Assembly Extends Session to Complete Work [13] New York State Senate Set to Finish Session This Week
- The New York State Legislature is nearing its session's end, leaving lawmakers to consider key pieces of policy-and-legislation, such as the Medical Aid in Dying Act, prison reforms, and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which fall under the general-news category.
- Amid the push for prison reforms, the budget for Fiscal Year 2025 includes funding for jail programs and parole changes, highlighting the intersection of infrastructure, criminal justice, and politics within the state's policy-and-legislation landscape.
