Nearly 36 days past the due date, Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C-Lake George) voted down a budget bill which included changes to public protection–specifically policies impacting correctional officers and facilities (A.3005). The bill failed to include substantive reforms to promote officer and staff safety. Instead, it reduced the minimum age for appointment by the commissioner of the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) from 21 to 18 years old. However, the officer will be prohibited from using safety tools or transporting an incarcerated individual until they are 21 years old. Additionally, the bill grants the governor the authority to close up to three correctional facilities this year with just 90-days’ notice prior to any closure, adding to the ongoing trend that weakens the state’s correctional system.

“Our correctional officers are already working in unsafe and unstable work environments,” said Simpson. “This budget fails to offer the support and protection they deserve in order to do their jobs effectively. We trust 18-year-olds in the military to carry firearms and protect our country, yet Albany Majority lawmakers deny young correctional officers basic safety equipment and responsibilities. On top of the staffing shortage, the governor has the unchecked authority to close additional facilities, creating more uncertainty for staff and the communities that rely on these jobs. In good conscience, I cannot vote in favor of a bill that fails our men and women in uniform.”