有料盒子

Gov. Kathy Hochul's proposal to expedite the closure of up to five state prisons in the 2025-26 fiscal year has been endorsed by the state Legislature.听

The state Assembly and Senate majorities released their one-house budgets Tuesday that would allow the Hochul administration to close more prisons with 90 days' notice.

State law usually requires a one-year notification, but the budget would temporarily reduce that time frame to allow for the facilities to be closed within the fiscal year.

The budget would require the Hochul administration to provide the list of correctional facilities the governor will close, the number of employees affected and the number of incarcerated individuals housed in the prisons.听

Daniel Martuscello, commissioner of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, would be required to report on staff relocation within 60 days after the prison closures.听

The proposal wasn't initially in Hochul's budget proposal, but it was part of her 30-day budget amendments released in February. The addition was made amid a correction officer strike that ended Monday.听

A spokesperson for Hochul told 有料盒子 in February that Hochul "is committed to doing everything in her power to keep correctional facilities safe for all who enter, and that includes ensuring facilities can be run effectively and efficiently with the staffing that's currently available."聽

They added, "While we continue efforts to recruit and attract new correction officers, both Governor Hochul and Commissioner Martuscello want the department to have the flexibility to close and consolidate up to five facilities this year which will help create safer and more secure facilities, and lead to improved working conditions for staff."聽

The governor and legislative leaders are aiming to finalize the state budget by April 1, the beginning of the new fiscal year.听

Hochul sought and was granted the same power last year to expedite the closure of up to five prisons. The state closed two maximum-security prisons, Great Meadow and Sullivan correctional facilities.听

The state has closed 26 prisons and eliminated more than 15,000 prison beds since 2011, according to DOCCS. The closures have saved the state $492 million.听