A8855 — Establishes the detention support program in the office for new Americans to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of detained persons

Summary

Establishes the detention support program in the office for new Americans to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of detained persons, including for bond payments to secure release from detention and travel stipends to facilitate visitation with detained individuals; establishes the detention support program fund.

Bill Text

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This bill amends 1 section(s) of the New York Consolidated Laws: Section 94-b of the executive law.

• Section 94-b of the executive law

  6. Detention support program. (a) There is hereby established, within the office, the detention support fund program. The purpose of the program shall be to distribute funds from the detention support program fund established pursuant to section ninety-nine-ss of the state finance law to provide financial assistance to individuals and families of detained persons, including but not limited to: (i) Bond payments to secure release from detention; and (ii) Travel stipends to facilitate visitation with detained individ- uals, both in and out of the state. (b) (i) The office shall establish eligibility criteria to receive a grant or reimbursement from the program. Such criteria shall prioritize individuals and families facing financial hardship. (ii) The office shall establish a grant or reimbursement process by which program funds shall be distributed. Such process may require applicants to submit specific documentation to determine eligibility to receive a grant or reimbursement from the fund. (iii) The office shall coordinate with community-based organizations to ensure accessibility to the program and outreach to individuals who may be eligible to receive a grant or reimbursement from the program. (c) (i) The office shall submit an annual report to the governor and the legislature which shall include, but not be limited to: the total italics amount of program funds disbursed; the number of individuals assisted by the program; and recommendations for future funding adjustments. (ii) The office shall ensure transparency by maintaining publicly available data on the expenditure of program funds; provided, however, that such data shall exclude personally identifiable information. information on the detention support program established pursuant to subdivision six of this section, § 99-ss. Detention support program fund. 1. There is hereby estab- lished, in the joint custody of the comptroller and the commissioner of taxation and finance a fund to be known as the detention support program fund. 2. Such fund shall consist of all moneys appropriated for the purpose of such fund, all other moneys required to be paid into, transferred or credited to such fund, and all moneys received by the fund or donated to it. 3. Moneys of the detention support program fund shall be expended solely for the purposes of carrying out the provisions of the detention support program established pursuant to subdivision six of section nine- ty-four-b of the executive law. Moneys shall be paid out of the fund on the audit and warrant of the state comptroller on vouchers approved by the director of the office for new Americans. Any interest received by the comptroller on moneys on deposit in the detention support program fund shall be retained in and become part of such fund.

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Action History

1. January 07, 2026

   REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

2. June 09, 2025

   REFERRED TO GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Sponsors

• Phara Souffrant Forrest · Primary

Subjects